HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla. – A 27-year-old Dade City man is behind bars this week after a month-long undercover operation ended with his arrest at his home on Laumer Road.
Spencer Worthie Pitsenbarger was taken into custody on April 13, 2026, following an investigation by the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office into online solicitation.
The case began back on January 20, 2026, when a detective with the Special Victim’s Unit started chatting with Pitsenbarger while posing as a 15-year-old.
According to official reports, Pitsenbarger continued the online conversation under the impression he was speaking with a minor. During the exchange, authorities say he requested an explicit image from the undercover detective and sent six obscene photos of himself.
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Detectives eventually secured a warrant for his arrest and arrived at his Dade City residence on Monday.
Upon making contact with the Special Victim’s Unit, Pitsenbarger admitted to the online chats and confirmed he had sent the obscene images to the person he believed was a teenager.
Pitsenbarger now faces several felony charges, including one count of soliciting a child for unlawful sexual conduct using a computer, six counts of showing obscene material to a minor, and one count of unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
He is currently being held at the local jail without bond as the investigation continues.
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