Disney Channel has fired Stoney Westmoreland, a lead actor on the popular show "Andi Mack" after the 48-year-old was arrested in Salt Lake City for allegedly plotting sex with a minor. Westmoreland reportedly caught a ride-share car to a trailer park on Thursday night in hopes of having sex with someone he believed to be underage. Authorities have said that the actor used a dating app to meet a minor and send explicit photos.
Greg Wilking, a detective for the Salt Lake City Police Department confirmed Westmoreland's intentions Saturday, explaining to the Washington Post, “He arranged to meet up with what he thought was a 13-year old.” Upon arriving at the trailer park, authorities were there as part of a sting operation to arrest Westmoreland.
Disney released a statement in response to Westmoreland's arrest. “Stoney Westmoreland, an actor working on the series Andi Mack, was arrested in Salt Lake City today,” a rep for Disney Channel 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.” Westmoreland plays Ham, Andi Mack's grandfather, on the television series and has appeared in 39 episodes throughout three seasons.
The actor was charged with five felony counts, including one count of enticing a minor on the Internet, and four counts of dealing in harmful material to a minor. A spokesperson for the Salt Lake City Police Department confirmed to EW that the child Westmoreland thought he was meeting was a male.
