Actor on Utah-shot Disney series arrested in Salt Lake City after FBI sting

Stoney Westmoreland. Photo: Salt Lake County

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Dec. 15, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — A man who plays the grandfather on the Utah-shot Disney series “Andi Mack” has been arrested on suspicion of crimes against children.

Stoney Westmoreland, 48, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail and faces charges of enticing a minor by Internet or text, a second-degree felony, and four counts of dealing with materials harmful to a minor, a third-degree felony.

According to a probable cause statement, Westmoreland began chatting on an app used by people interested in meeting for sex.

“The A/P (arrested person) was chatting with a person he believed to be 13 years old,” the probable cause statement says. “During this chat, the A/P also sent four pornographic photos… to the person who he believed to be 13. The A/P also asked the person who he believed to be 13 years old to send nude photos to him.”

Westmoreland was arrested after taking a ride-sharing service to a designated address in Salt Lake City “in order to pick up the person who he believed to be 13 years old and take back to his hotel room in order to engage in sexual activity,” the probable cause statement says.

“He was then taken into custody by members of the Salt Lake City Police Department and members of the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force.”

Westmoreland played Ham Mack, the grandfather of the title character on “Andi Mack.” The series is described by Disney public relations as “A contemporary coming-of-age story about a girl who’s trying to determine where she fits in, when her free-spirited older sister returns with a revelation that changes everything, it sends Andi on an uncharted course of self-discovery.”

The series’ first season began on the night of Andi’s 13th birthday.

The Disney Channel released a statement on Friday night:

“Stoney Westmoreland, an actor working on the series ‘Andi Mack,’ was arrested in Salt Lake City today,” it said.

“Given the nature of the charges and our responsibility for the welfare of employed minors, we have released him from his recurring role and he will not be returning to work on the series which wraps production on its third season next week.”

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here