BACK TO THE NAVAL BASE AS WELL. A NOW FORMER CAMP DIRECTOR AT SHALOM ORLANDO IS ACCUSED OF TRYING TO MEET UP WITH A 14 YEAR OLD GIRL TO HAVE SEX. IT TURNS OUT THAT GIRL WAS ACTUALLY AN UNDERCOVER AGENT. WESH 2’S PATRICK PEREZ IS IN THE NEWSROOM TONIGHT, AND PATRICK, THE MAN, TOLD OFFICERS HE WAS SORRY AND MADE A MISTAKE. YEAH. SUMMER THAT APOLOGY WAS INCLUDED IN THIS FOUR PAGE ARREST REPORT. IN IT, DETECTIVES GO INTO GREAT DETAIL ABOUT THE MESSAGES HE WAS SENDING. THIS SUPPOSED 14 YEAR OLD GIRL. THEY ARE, OF COURSE, TOO GRAPHIC TO SHOW AND DISCUSS ON TV. I ALSO GOT MY HANDS ON THE LETTER SENT BY SHALOM ORLANDO TO PARENTS ABOUT THIS ARREST. 39 YEAR OLD TERENCE PERKINS IS FACING SERIOUS CHARGES AFTER A DAYS LONG STING OPERATION BY HOMELAND SECURITY AND ORLANDO POLICE. PERKINS WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY WEDNESDAY NIGHT NEAR THIS CONDOMINIUM COMPLEX ON CURRY FORD ROAD, ACCORDING TO HIS ARREST REPORT. IT’S HERE WHERE POLICE SAY PERKINS AGREED TO MEET AND HAVE SEX WITH SOMEONE HE THOUGHT WAS A 14 YEAR OLD GIRL HE MET ONLINE. POLICE SAY PERKINS WAS SUPPOSED TO MEET WITH THE FAKE GIRL DAYS PRIOR, BUT MESSAGED THE UNDERCOVER AGENT SAYING TOO MUCH, TOO FAST. YOU’RE YOUNG AND IF THIS GOES SIDEWAYS, I LOSE EVERYTHING. AND SORRY, I CAN’T. I WANT TO, BUT IT’S TOO SOON. CAN’T RISK EVERYTHING. PERKINS WAS A CAMP DIRECTOR AT SHALOM ORLANDO IN MAITLAND, RESPONSIBLE FOR EVENTS LIKE THE UPCOMING SUMMER CAMP IN JUNE. IN A LETTER TO PARENTS, SHALOM ORLANDO SAYS PERKINS WAS TERMINATED, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, AND HE IS NO LONGER PERMITTED ON THEIR CAMPUS. THE LETTER ALSO SAYS THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY HAS INDICATED AT THIS TIME THERE IS NO REASON TO BELIEVE ANY OF THE ALLEGED BEHAVIOR INVOLVED THEIR CAMPERS, CAMPUS OR PROGRAMS, AND THAT THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY REPORTS OF MISCONDUCT INVOLVING MR. PERKINS WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION TO LOSING HIS JOB, PERKINS WAS CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED LEWD OR LASCIVIOUS BATTERY AND SOLICITATION OF A MINOR, AMONG OTHER CHARGES. AFTER HIS ARREST, PERKINS APOLOGIZED AND TOLD OFFICERS IF THE 14 YEAR OLD WAS REAL, HE WOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING HE SHOULDN’T HAVE DONE. ACCORDING TO JAIL RECORDS, HE WAS RELEASED FROM THE ORANGE COUNTY JAIL LAST NIGHT. IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION THAT COULD HELP THE INVESTIGATION, YOU ARE ASKED TO GIV
Fired Shalom Orlando camp director accused of trying to meet 14-year-old for sex
Updated: 10:44 PM EDT Apr 10, 2026
A now-former camp director at Shalom Orlando is facing multiple felony charges after a sting operation in which he allegedly tried to meet a 14-year-old girl for sex, according to the Orlando Police Department.The girl turned out to be an undercover agent.Terrance Perkins, 39, was arrested Wednesday night near a condominium complex on Curry Ford Road, according to his arrest affidavit. Police said Perkins agreed to meet and have sex with someone he believed was a 14-year-old girl he met on the dating app “Boo.”According to the affidavit, a Homeland Security Investigations special agent, working in an undercover capacity, posed as the teen on the app as part of a joint operation targeting individuals engaged in online child exploitation. On March 27, a user identified as “Terrance” messaged the undercover profile, and the two moved their conversation to text messaging.The affidavit states the decoy told Perkins she was 14. Perkins acknowledged her age, saying, “I was doing the same stuff when I was 14 lol,” and continued the conversation, eventually discussing sexual acts and offering to bring alcohol, according to the arrest report.Perkins was initially supposed to meet the decoy on March 29, but backed out, messaging the undercover agent, “Too much, too fast. You’re young, and if this goes sideways, I lose everything,” and, “Sorry, I can’t. I want to, but it’s too soon. Can’t risk everything.”But on April 8, Perkins re-engaged and agreed to meet, according to the affidavit. He participated in a video chat with the decoy and then agreed to meet at a predetermined location in Orange County. When Perkins arrived at about 8:30 p.m., he was arrested by Orlando police officers. A search of his vehicle revealed three large cans of alcoholic beverages, which were taken as evidence, according to the affidavit.During an interview with detectives, Perkins stated that if the 14-year-old had been real, “he would have done something he shouldn’t have done,” the affidavit states. He told investigators he was sorry and he made a mistake. He also wrote an apology letter.Perkins was charged with attempted lewd or lascivious battery and solicitation of a minor, among other offenses.Perkins was a camp director at Shalom Orlando in Maitland, responsible for events including the upcoming summer camp in June. In a letter to parents shared with WESH 2 News, the center confirmed Perkins was fired and that none of the alleged behavior involved any of their campers or programs. According to Orange County jail records, Perkins was released Thursday night. Anyone with information that could help the investigation is asked to call the Orlando Police Department at 321-235-5300.Below is the letter to parents from Shalom Orlando:Dear Community Members,We are writing to share deeply troubling news. This morning, our Camp Director, Terrance Perkins, was arrested as part of a sting operation by the Orlando Police Department involving the alleged solicitation of a minor.We want you to know immediately: the Department of Children and Families has indicated that, at this time, there is no reason to believe any of the alleged behavior involved our campers, our campus, or our programs.Mr. Perkins’ employment has been terminated effective immediately, and he is no longer permitted on our campus. We are fully cooperating with law enforcement.We are not aware of any reports of misconduct involving Mr. Perkins within our community. However, if you have any information that may be relevant to the investigation, we urge you to contact the Orlando Police Department at 321-235-5300.As always, we want to remind you of the safeguards we maintain to protect our children. We require that at least two adults are present with children at all times. All staff members undergo comprehensive background screening, including ongoing monitoring, and we regularly review our safety policies to ensure they reflect current best practices.Camp will go forward this summer as planned. Our team is working full speed ahead and looks forward to welcoming our campers on June 8. We are committed to delivering the outstanding experience our families expect, and we will share more details in the coming weeks.We understand this news is unsettling, and we want you to know we are taking this matter with the utmost seriousness. We understand this may be difficult to talk about. If you would like support, please reach out to us at Shalom Orlando, and we will help connect you with a social worker or other trusted resources.We will share additional information as it becomes available and as appropriate.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
A now-former camp director at Shalom Orlando is facing multiple felony charges after a sting operation in which he allegedly tried to meet a 14-year-old girl for sex, according to the Orlando Police Department.
The girl turned out to be an undercover agent.
Terrance Perkins, 39, was arrested Wednesday night near a condominium complex on Curry Ford Road, according to his arrest affidavit. Police said Perkins agreed to meet and have sex with someone he believed was a 14-year-old girl he met on the dating app “Boo.”
According to the affidavit, a Homeland Security Investigations special agent, working in an undercover capacity, posed as the teen on the app as part of a joint operation targeting individuals engaged in online child exploitation.
On March 27, a user identified as “Terrance” messaged the undercover profile, and the two moved their conversation to text messaging.
The affidavit states the decoy told Perkins she was 14. Perkins acknowledged her age, saying, “I was doing the same stuff when I was 14 lol,” and continued the conversation, eventually discussing sexual acts and offering to bring alcohol, according to the arrest report.
Perkins was initially supposed to meet the decoy on March 29, but backed out, messaging the undercover agent, “Too much, too fast. You’re young, and if this goes sideways, I lose everything,” and, “Sorry, I can’t. I want to, but it’s too soon. Can’t risk everything.”
But on April 8, Perkins re-engaged and agreed to meet, according to the affidavit. He participated in a video chat with the decoy and then agreed to meet at a predetermined location in Orange County.
When Perkins arrived at about 8:30 p.m., he was arrested by Orlando police officers. A search of his vehicle revealed three large cans of alcoholic beverages, which were taken as evidence, according to the affidavit.
During an interview with detectives, Perkins stated that if the 14-year-old had been real, “he would have done something he shouldn’t have done,” the affidavit states. He told investigators he was sorry and he made a mistake. He also wrote an apology letter.
Perkins was charged with attempted lewd or lascivious battery and solicitation of a minor, among other offenses.
Perkins was a camp director at Shalom Orlando in Maitland, responsible for events including the upcoming summer camp in June. In a letter to parents shared with WESH 2 News, the center confirmed Perkins was fired and that none of the alleged behavior involved any of their campers or programs.
According to Orange County jail records, Perkins was released Thursday night.
Anyone with information that could help the investigation is asked to call the Orlando Police Department at 321-235-5300.
Below is the letter to parents from Shalom Orlando:
Dear Community Members,We are writing to share deeply troubling news. This morning, our Camp Director, Terrance Perkins, was arrested as part of a sting operation by the Orlando Police Department involving the alleged solicitation of a minor.We want you to know immediately: the Department of Children and Families has indicated that, at this time, there is no reason to believe any of the alleged behavior involved our campers, our campus, or our programs.Mr. Perkins’ employment has been terminated effective immediately, and he is no longer permitted on our campus. We are fully cooperating with law enforcement.We are not aware of any reports of misconduct involving Mr. Perkins within our community. However, if you have any information that may be relevant to the investigation, we urge you to contact the Orlando Police Department at 321-235-5300.As always, we want to remind you of the safeguards we maintain to protect our children. We require that at least two adults are present with children at all times. All staff members undergo comprehensive background screening, including ongoing monitoring, and we regularly review our safety policies to ensure they reflect current best practices.Camp will go forward this summer as planned. Our team is working full speed ahead and looks forward to welcoming our campers on June 8. We are committed to delivering the outstanding experience our families expect, and we will share more details in the coming weeks.We understand this news is unsettling, and we want you to know we are taking this matter with the utmost seriousness. We understand this may be difficult to talk about. If you would like support, please reach out to us at Shalom Orlando, and we will help connect you with a social worker or other trusted resources.We will share additional information as it becomes available and as appropriate.