JEFFERSON COUNTY, PA (LOOTPRESS) – A West Virginia man is behind bars after authorities say he attempted to engage in sexual activity and solicit explicit images from someone he believed to be a teenage girl.
Roy Talbott, 27, of Weirton, is accused of communicating with members of the 814 Pred Hunters group, who were posing online as a 15-year-old.
Police say the conversations, which began in mid-August, occurred over text messages and Facebook.
Investigators report that Talbott allegedly sent multiple photos of himself and tried to obtain explicit images from the purported teen.
The messages reportedly grew more sexually explicit over several weeks, with plans discussed for Talbott to travel to Brookville, PA to meet the decoy in person.
When confronted by police, Talbott reportedly admitted to talking with the “teen” but claimed the conversations were meant as a joke.
Authorities also say he was found in possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia at the time of his arrest.
Court records show Talbott faces charges including felony attempted statutory sexual assault and attempted corruption of minors.
He is being held at the Jefferson County Jail on $50,000 bail.
