Fort Pierce Commissioner Taylor Suspended, Resigns Amid 24 Child Exploitation Felony Charges

Fort Pierce City Commissioner James Taylor resigned following his arrest on 24 felony counts related to child exploitation involving a teenage girl, with the alleged relationship beginning when the girl was 12. Despite his resignation being effective August 2, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis immediately suspended Taylor, barring him from performing any official duties or receiving pay until the resignation takes effect. The charges stem from a multi-state investigation initiated after a mother in Illinois reported inappropriate Snapchat communications between Taylor and her daughter. Local, state, and federal officials, including Rep. Toby Overdorf and U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, strongly condemned Taylor’s actions and urged his immediate resignation or suspension. Taylor was held in St. Lucie County Jail on a $360,000 bond and admitted his role, expressing remorse during his initial court appearance. The Fort Pierce City Commission convened a special meeting to plan a special election to fill Taylor's seat, emphasizing the importance of restoring the community’s trust in their representation.