Rising sophomore Connor Gooding was arrested on the afternoon of June 29, 2026
Rising University of Miami sophomore Connor Gooding was arrested on June 29, 2026, for traveling with the intention to meet a minor for sexual intercourse.
According to the official Columbia County police report released on Facebook, Gooding was communicating with someone he believed was a child over social media. In reality, the account was run by an undercover Columbia County, Fla., detective.
Gooding sent messages describing explicit actions he would like to do and sent inappropriate pictures to the undercover account despite knowing the presumed child’s age. He also asked the “child” about their parent’s schedule so that he could coordinate a time for them to meet.
Columbia County detectives eventually arrested Gooding and found condoms in his possession.
During a digital investigation detectives discovered over 25 pictures of bestiality on his devices.
Gooding was processed at the Columbia County Detention Facility and released on a $430,000 bond the next day.
While at the detention facility he was charged with the following: traveling to meet a minor for sex, attempted sexual battery, using computer to lure, seduce and solicit a child, using a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony, distributing, transmitting, and showing obscene material to a minor on three accounts, “film, possess image video animal sex activity” on 25 accounts, possession of fictitious identification and tampering with evidence in a criminal proceeding.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Gooding also worked at KidStrong, a kid’s development center, as a youth fitness coach. Kids from 0-11 are able to attend the program.
Gooding is also a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. The Hurricane has contacted the UM Epsilon Omega chapter and Lambda Chi Alpha headquarters, and has not received a statement yet.
The Columbia County sheriff’s office is still working on the case and expects more charges to follow.