A Cape Coral man was found guilty of sending sexually explicit text messages and photos and attempting to meet up with a minor.
According to the State Attorney's Office, the case began on July 29, 2022, when the child's parents contacted the Cape Coral Police Department after they said a former neighbor, Regan Anthony Beresford, 54, of Cape Coral, had been texting them, making the child uncomfortable.
A detective got permission from the child’s parents to access the child’s phone. Beresford continued texting the phone, with texts that were sexual in nature, which were seen directly by the detective. Beresford also sent a sexual image of himself.
A meeting time and date were arranged between Beresford and the detective. The SAO said Beresford wanted, who he presumed was the child, to meet him at a convenience store on North Burnt Store Road in Cape Coral so they could have sex.
Police were waiting as Beresford pulled up, and he texted the child’s phone that he was there and to meet him at the side of the store.
Beresford was instead met by members of the Cape Coral Police Department and was arrested.
Beresford had condoms and another sex related item with him that he had admitted purchasing just prior to arriving at the location to meet the child.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 21, 2025.
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