POSTED: Thursday, September 13, 2012 - 8:30pm
UPDATED: Thursday, September 13, 2012 - 8:34pm
East Baton Rouge, La — East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Deputies arrested a man today for sending inappropriate messages to an undercover detective posing as a 14-year-old girl.
Michael Stafford, 26, has been charged with Indecent Behavior With a Juvenile and Computer Aided Solicitation of a Minor. Stafford was arrested as a result of a joint investigation by The East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office and Louisiana Attorney General’s Office.
According to reports, Stafford allegedly communicated via the internet, cell phone and text messaging with what he believed was a 14-year-old girl living in East Baton Rouge Parish during July of this year. An undercover East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office detective was actually posing as the child as part of a Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Unit initiative. Stafford allegedly sent lewd or lascivious text messages to the girl. Detectives were able to connect Stafford to the messages.
Stafford was transported and booked as a Fugitive in Jefferson Parish Prison this morning. He was transported this afternoon and booked into EBR Parish Prison on the above listed charges.