The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
A Texas man was accused of sending sexually explicit messages and violent threats to a young Arkansas girl after allegedly contacting her through TikTok.
According to authorities, the investigation began after the alleged victim’s mother contacted the sheriff’s office on May 18. She said her 10-year-old daughter had been receiving text messages from an unknown adult on her cellphone.
Investigators said the communication allegedly started more than a week earlier after the man commented on the girl’s TikTok posts. The two then began exchanging messages. Although the child allegedly told him she was 13 years old, the conversations reportedly continued.
During the investigation, the authorities said the man allegedly sent the girl a photo of himself. At another point, the two reportedly played a game of truth or dare that allegedly became sexually explicit. Investigators said the man allegedly tried to persuade the child to send him an explicit image.
According to the authorities, the girl eventually blocked his phone number. Investigators said he allegedly contacted her again using a different number and asked her to unblock the original one. When she refused, he reportedly sent a short video showing someone holding a handgun while several other firearms were visible nearby. He also allegedly sent another image showing a firearm in the background and reportedly threatened to shoot into the family’s home. During later messages, investigators said he allegedly offered to send the child money while discussing her age.
Detectives traced the phone numbers to the suspect and determined that his driver’s license photo matched the image allegedly sent to the child.
On June 17, the authorities arrested the 20-year-old in Texas. He was extradited to Arkansas and booked into the Miller County Detention Center. He was charged with sexually grooming a child, sexual indecency with a child, sexual extortion, grooming a minor for future sex trafficking, first-degree terroristic threatening, and use of a communication device. His bail was set at $500,000.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a criminal offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.