Long distance MySpace romance leads to arrest

BRANDON, Fla. - A California man's trip to Florida ended with a stay in jail, after deputies say he repeatedly had sex with a 14-year-old girl in Brandon.

Brandon Neece, 19, was arrested on charges of lewd and lascivious battery on a minor after detectives say he had sex five times with the underage girl. Detectives say the two met on the website MySpace and decided they should meet in person.

"He actually told detectives he hitchiked from California," said Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Debbie Carter.

Arrest reports say Neece arrived in Brandon on Thursday, and the girl let him in her house through her bedroom window. Deputies say he hid away there for several days until the girl's father found him in the room and called the Sheriff's office.

"We have detectives that are looking for people that are trying to lure kids for sexual encounters, it happens all the time," Carter said. "Make sure you know what your kids are doing."