Joel Bruce Searby has been active in Florida Republican politics for many years. He worked for a consulting firm called Data Targeting where he worked for many Republican campaigns. Most recently, he was a board member of Education First for Newberry, a group trying to turn Newberry’s public schools into charter schools.

He was arrested in June, 2024, charged with charges of lewd or lascivious conduct, use of a computer to solicit a minor, enticing a minor to travel, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device. He was attempting to lure a fifteen-year-old boy in order to molest him.

In his SnapChat communications with the minor, Searby described how when he was a child, a freshman in high school, a man in his forties solicited him, drawing him in and sexually assaulting him, though Searby described only in positive terms, promising to do the same for the minor boy. He sent pictures and was explicit in what he was asking of the boy.

The head of the local Republican Party who is a City Commissioner in Newberry rushed to Searby’s defense telling people he did not trust the criminal justice system. He recanted that support after seeing the messages that were exchanged.

The judge has denied bail, agreeing with the prosecutor that Searby poses a risk to the community. Five people have written in support of him getting bail.

• The Gainesville Sun: Man who helped spearhead Newberry charter initiative accused of trying to lure teen for sex
• Alachua Chronicle: Updated: Leader of Newberry charter school initiative charged with inviting a 15-year-old boy to his home for sex
• WCJB: Court to consider 5 letters of testimony supporting Joel Searby despite being arrested on child sex crimes