Man indicted on Internet sexual predator charges
|
|
Recommend ThisBy Alex Bridges-abridges@nvdaily.com
WINCHESTER -- Authorities targeting online sexual predators charged a West Virginia man with trying to solicit sex from undercover investigators earlier this year.
A Frederick County Circuit Court grand jury on Thursday indicted Robert Wayne Fuss III, 27, of the 200 block of Clearview Road, Hedgesville, on eight counts of attempted indecent liberties with a minor and two counts of using a computer to solicit sexual activity from a child.
Fuss turned himself in to authorities at the Northwestern Regional Adult Detention Center on Friday, and was released on $20,000 unsecured bond, according to a news release from the Frederick County Sheriff's Office. Fuss is scheduled to appear in the court Wednesday.
The investigation stemmed from sexually explicit online chats Fuss initiated with a Frederick County Sheriff's Office agent working undercover through the Northern Virginia-Washington, D.C. Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, according to the release.
"Fuss made contact with an individual that he believed to be a 14-year-old child to engage in a sexual encounter on at least two separate occasions," the release states.
Investigator James Galbreath filed an affidavit for a warrant to search a computer and an external hard drive seized from Fuss' home and later stored by the Sheriff's Office. The affidavit states Fuss engaged in conversations with Galbreath through a Yahoo! chat room beginning on Jan. 20.
After Galbreath traced the user ID, "comeplaywithme2day," West Virginia State Police Sgt. Dave Boober served a search warrant at Fuss' home, the affidavit states. Both agents spoke with Fuss on March 17, acknowledged he was the party involved and confirmed the details of the chats, the affidavit states.
The West Virginia authorities assisted Virginia investigators in the case.
Authorities now are investigating whether Fuss has had any inappropriate contact with children.
Anyone with information about Fuss that may be pertinent to the case may call the Sheriff's Office Internet Crimes Against Children unit at 504-6529.
0 
Leave a comment
Comments
Comments that are posted on nvdaily.com represent the opinion of the commenter and not the Northern Virginia Daily/nvdaily.com.
Comments that contain Web addresses, e-mail addresses, personal attacks, name-calling or personal information considered by the editor to be inappropriate for posting here will not be posted.
Commenters agree to abide by our COMMENTS POLICY when posting. Questions? E-mail us at info@nvdaily.com.