Bradenton Man Charged With Using Computer to Lure Child for Sex

A 50-year-old Bradenton man has been arrested and charged with using a computer to lure a child for sex following an undercover investigation by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.

According to investigators, Sidney Joseph Hird allegedly began communicating on July 13 with an undercover detective posing as a 15-year-old boy on the messaging platform Kik.

Authorities said Hird allegedly sent nude photos and videos of himself during the conversation and made sexually explicit comments while believing he was communicating with a minor.

Investigators traced the online communications to Hird’s residence in Bradenton. He was later arrested and extradited to Bay County to face the charge.

Hird is being held at the Bay County Jail on a $50,000 bond. The case remains under investigation.