CPS fires caseworker accused of soliciting sex from minor in Arlington, records show
A caseworker with Texas Child Protective Services was fired before Arlington police arrested him on a charge of online solicitation of a child for sex, records show.
Rodney Leon Carroll, 52, of Bedford, is accused of sending inappropriate messages and explicit photos of himself to an individual he was led to believe was a 15-year-old boy, according to an arrest warrant. An Arlington officer was purporting to be the child, using a photo of a real 15-year-old boy who consented to police using the photo, the warrant shows.
Carroll was arrested last week and was released from jail after posting $5,000 bond, records show.
The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services informed Carroll of his termination on Nov. 22, according to his dismissal letter provided to the Star-Telegram by the agency. The letter, written by the director of the CPS region that includes Tarrant County, doesn’t cite a reason for Carroll’s termination but notes he would be dismissed from employment effective Nov. 22.
Carroll was hired in February 2019 as a family-based safety services worker, working in family’s homes, according to Marissa Garza, a DFPS spokesperson. The DFPS website indicates these caseworkers help families that have been investigated by CPS to “make changes to protect their children from abuse and neglect.”
The offense of online solicitation of a minor occurred in October 2019, when Carroll sent “sexually explicit” messages and material to a person he believed to be younger than 17 “with intent to commit sexual assault,” the warrant states.
On Oct. 28, a detective with the crimes against children unit conducted an online solicitation investigation, portraying a 15-year-old boy as he entered chat rooms, dating apps and other social media platforms to try to lure sexual predators, according to the warrant. He created an online dating profile using the photo from the 15-year-old who consented to his image being used.
A person with the username “Ryendorgib,” who appeared to be an adult man in his picture, sent a message to the account and the undercover detective told him he was 15 years old, the warrant shows. Carroll then replied, “Oh OK. What are you looking for on here?”
After the detective told him he didn’t know, Carroll stated he was looking for fun and asked if he had ever been with a man before, according to the warrant. Carroll eventually asked the undercover detective if he was a “top” or a “bottom,” the warrant shows.
Carroll later reportedly requested they exchange photographs, at which point the detective sent a non-suggestive photo of the 15-year-old boy. In response, Carroll sent a photo of himself in underwear as well as a nude photo, according to the warrant.
The detective requested they continue their conversation over text and police were able to plug Carroll’s phone number into a database that showed them his information like his address in Bedford, the warrant shows. Comparing his driver’s license photo to the photos he sent online, police confirmed Carroll was their suspect.
This story was originally published January 17, 2020 at 3:06 PM.
