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St. Marys resident arrested on importuning charge |
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Friday, 12 June 2009 |
By KATIE YANTIS
Staff Writer
ST. MARYS — A local man was arrested Friday afternoon on a sex charge.
Jason W. Vanderpool, 30, 613 Jackson St., St. Marys, was arrested on a charge of importuning, a fifth-degree felony. He allegedly solicited sex from a minor via the Internet.
“The online chat began on May 27, with our undercover officer,” St. Marys Police Chief Greg Foxhoven said. “We were sitting idle in the chat room when Mr. Vanderpool began chatting with us.”
Foxhoven said the exchange of conversation continued approximately 10 times, and the department secured an arrest warrant. The department executed the warrant on Friday.
“There were two computers that were seized — one lap top, one desktop and other media storage devices,” Foxhoven said.
Foxhoven said Vanderpool did not set up a meeting with whom he believed to be a 15-year-old girl. However, the police chief said Vanderpool reportedly solicited sex from the officer posing as a minor.
“The crime is committed when they solicit sex,” Foxhoven said. “They don’t have to travel here.”
Vanderpool appeared in Auglaize County Municipal Court Friday and was ordered held on a $25,000 bond with a 10 percent cash provision. Since the charge is a felony, prosecution must take place in Common Pleas Court. A case can make it to Common Pleas court if it is bound over by a judge or a grand jury issues an indictment.
Vanderpool faces a maximum of a year in prison and a $2,500 fine. He also, if convicted, would be subject to a sexual offender status hearing.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 15 July 2009 )
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