Repeat sex offender arrested after chat logs showed him soliciting minors: police

RANDOLPH COUNTY — A repeat sex offender was arrested Thursday on suspicion of soliciting teen girls for sex after police were contacted by a predator catcher group.

The 40-year-old Muncie man's chat logs showed him engaged in sexual conversations with two members of the group who posed as 14-year-old girls, according to a news release from the Randolph County Sheriff's Department.

An investigation began when police were contacted by the group, PCM: Predator Catchers Muncie. Police first met with the group on Jan. 14.

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The group provided the suspect's full chat logs, which also showed he had agreed to meet one of the members he believed to be a minor, the Sheriff's Department said.

Police later obtained a warrant for the man's arrest and arrested him at his home.

The suspect faces a felony count of child solicitation, which carries a penalty of one to six years if convicted and a fine of up to $10,000.

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He was previously convicted in two separate child solicitation cases, the Sheriff's Department said.

The man has not yet been formally charged in the most recent investigation.