BOYNTON BEACH, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2026) — Boynton Beach Police arrested 59-year-old Robert Zdanowski of Port St. Lucie after investigators say he traveled to Intracoastal Park to meet a 15-year-old boy for sex following days of explicit online communication.
The arrest followed an investigation by the Boynton Beach Police Department’s Human Exploitation Task Force, which began after detectives were contacted through the Grindr messaging app. According to police, Zdanowski initiated contact and continued communicating with the minor across multiple platforms.
Investigators said the communications occurred between Jan. 7 and Jan. 15 and included repeated sexually explicit messages. Police documented that Zdanowski acknowledged the child’s age during the conversations and continued requesting explicit photos while describing sexual acts he intended to perform.
According to the probable cause affidavit, a Boynton Beach Police detective was operating undercover as a 15-year-old boy. The undercover account referenced age-specific details during the conversations, including school-related information. Investigators said Zdanowski continued pursuing a meeting despite those references.
On Jan. 15, police said Zdanowski advised he was in the Boynton Beach area for work and coordinated plans to pick the child up at Intracoastal Park and take him to a hotel to have sex. Detectives said Zdanowski arrived at the park as planned and was taken into custody.
Zdanowski was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail on charges of traveling to meet a minor for sexual activity, solicitation of a minor to engage in sexual conduct, unlawful use of a two-way communication device, and possession of a controlled substance.
Police reported that a search incident to arrest found condoms in Zdanowski’s pocket along with a container holding pills identified as alprazolam, commonly known as Xanax. Investigators said he did not provide proof of a valid prescription at the time of arrest.
According to police, Zdanowski provided a full post-Miranda sworn statement in which he admitted to contacting the child online, continuing the communications through text messages and WhatsApp, and traveling to the park to meet the child for sexual purposes.
Jail records listed bond amounts of $100,000 for traveling to meet a minor, $50,000 for solicitation of a minor, $10,000 for unlawful use of a two-way communication device, and $5,000 for possession of a controlled substance. Court records show Zdanowski appeared before a judge on Jan. 16, with additional court dates scheduled into February and March.
The case is being prosecuted in Palm Beach County court. Boynton Beach Police remain the investigating agency.
Police said that since the Human Exploitation Task Force was established in August 2025, the unit has arrested 17 individuals for soliciting a minor.
January is recognized as Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Police urged parents and guardians to remain alert to online exploitation and to maintain open communication with children. Investigators said warning signs may include unexplained money or possessions, relationships with significantly older individuals, unexplained travel or absences, and sudden changes in behavior or personality.
Anyone who suspects suspicious activity involving a minor is encouraged to contact the Boynton Beach Police Department at 561-732-8116.
