Update: Arrest Warrant Served In Rochester For Online Predator Case
Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- Authorities have served an arrest warrant for a Minneapolis man charged in a Rochester underage sex solicitation investigation.
See Also: Woman Killed, Man Injured in Head-on Crash on Minnesota Highway
The warrant, filed in Olmsted County Court on Friday, says the Rochester Police Department began an undercover chatting operation on social media in July.
Officers pretended to be a teen girl living in Rochester.
Warrant: 35-Year-Old Minneapolis Man Sent Sexually Explicit Photos to Fake Teen Girl Account Ran by Rochester Police
On July 31, an account operated by a man identified as 35-year-old Tre'Von Cortez Dotson began messaging the account.
Dotson asked the user’s age and the undercover officer replied they were a 14-year-old girl living in Rochester, the complaint says.
After a few days of chatting, Dotson asked the fake teen for a photo of herself. He then sent the account a sexually explicit photo of himself, the charges say.
See Also: Citizen Sting Leads to New Charges for Rochester Predatory Offender
Dotson had sent multiple sexually explicit photos of himself to the fake teen until the conversations ended on September 2.
The court document also says Dotson had talked about engaging in sexual acts with the fake teen, asked for sexually explicit photos and discussed coming to Rochester.
Court records indicate Dotson has an active arrest warrant in a fifth-degree drug possession case in Ramsey County.
Dotson is facing one count each of the following charges:
- Soliciting a child through electronic communication to engage in sexual conduct
- Engaging in electronic communication relating to or describing sexual conduct with a child
- Using electronic communication to distribute material that relates to or describes sexual conduct with a child
Dotson made his first appearance in Olmsted County Court on Thursday. He was released without bail and is due back in court next month.
Story updated to reflect Dotson being arrested and arraigned.
How Texans Can Protect Their Apple ID from 'Smishing' Scams
Gallery Credit: Tara Holley
