SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – UPDATE: June 5.
Charges have been dropped against Harold Mills, one of the three men arrested in a Seminole County prostitution sting last month. Below are statements from Mills, a former UCF trustee, and from his attorney, Mark NeJame.
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“I’d like to thank my entire team led by Mark NeJame –they are the epitome of excellence. I’d also like to thank the Seminole County State Attorney’s Office for their integrity and professionalism throughout. Additionally, I’d like to acknowledge the Sheriff’s Office for the civility they extended to me.
“I cannot express enough how much the outpouring of support and words of encouragement from our community have meant to me and my family over the last few weeks. Your friendships are invaluable, and I will find the opportunity to thank you personally.
“There are many lessons learned throughout this experience. Not the least of which, is that no matter what your belief, like Jesus himself, we can all learn to extend more grace, and mercy and kindness to each other as neighbors.
“My family has experienced significant trauma in recent years and now that this process is behind us, my request is that we be provided the privacy, time, and space to pursue our path to healing.”
Harold Mills
“From the onset, I stated that initial reports are often inaccurate and wrong.
“Not guilty papers were filed, our factual and legal positions were listened to, and no charges brought.
We’re thankful to the State Attorney’s office for its competent and proficient handling of this matter. Now Harold can move forward with his family, philanthropy, businesses, and life and be considered exonerated."
Mark NeJame, attorney
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In several arrest reports, deputies said they performed an undercover operation at two Seminole County parks on Thursday: Liberty Park in Lake Mary and Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs.
“This operation was about repeated issues regarding people exposing their sexual organs and conducting lewd and indecent acts at the park,” one report reads.
Using the application “Sniffies” — defined as a “map-based hookup web app for gay, bisexual and bicurious men” — undercover agents messaged suspects who agreed to show up to the parks for sexual favors, the reports show.
The suspects arrested during this operation were as follows:
- Harold Mills, 53 — Arrested at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs
- Jairo Areis, 39 — Arrested at Liberty Park in Lake Mary
- Leroy Green, 35 — Arrested at Liberty Park in Lake Mary
Mills serves as a board member at UCF, Guidewell, Florida Blue, Rollins College, LIFT Orlando and the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center, according to UCF officials.
Deputies said Mills had exposed his genitals to one of the undercover agents when they stood at the open window of his driver door in the park.
After asking for sexual favors, Mills was placed in handcuffs, though he claimed that he “was simply clearing his mind” by visiting the park, the report says.
Areis was also arrested after reportedly showing his genitals to an undercover agent under the pavilion at Liberty Park, deputies added.
Meanwhile, Green — an employee at the SCSO — was caught exposing his genitals and asking an undercover agent to perform sexual favors on him, according to detectives.
Green has since resigned from his position, the sheriff’s office announced.
“We will let the documents speak for themselves,” an SCSO spokesperson told News 6.
Mills faces charges of indecent exposure and agreeing to secure a prostitute. He is held on bond of $1,250.
Areis faces charges of exposure of sexual organs and soliciting lewdness. He is held on bond of $1,500.
Green faces charges of exposure of sexual organs and soliciting prostitution. He is held on bond of $1,500.
News 6 has reached out to UCF for a statement and is awaiting a response.
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