RICHMOND, IN — A Wayne County man who allegedly believed he was communicating online with a 15-year-old girl was actually exchanging messages with a Clinton County sheriff’s deputy.
Dustin J. Adams, 31, of Dublin, was charged on Thursday, May 21, in Wayne Circuit Court with child exploitation, a Level 5 felony carrying up to six years in prison.
According to an affidavit, when Adams believed he was in touch with the juvenile, he eventually began making sexually charged comments and offered graphic descriptions of sex acts he suggested they could perform together.
The detective said he led Adams to believe he was a 15-year-old from Shelbyville. He was working with the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
The online interactions leading to the felony charge against Adams began on March 9, according to the court document.
Adams allegedly asked for photos of the girl, which the deputy created through artificial intelligence technology.
Deputies interviewed Adams on April 30 after finding him in a restaurant in Connersville. He reported he had deleted the online application that brought him into contact with the person he believed to be a juvenile.
A search warrant was issued for the Dublin man’s cell phone.
A warrant was also issued for Adams’ arrest on Thursday. Once he is in custody, his bond will be set at $75,000.
Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Deputy: Wayne County man believed he was soliciting sex from juvenile
Reporting by Douglas Walker, Richmond Palladium-Item / Muncie Star Press
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