PINELLAS COUNTY, FL -- A man traveled from Georgia to Florida on three occasions to meet with a minor after the two met through a social networking website accessed through a cell phone.
Detectives from the Crimes Against Children Unit have arrested Manuel A. Willis for lewd and lascivious battery and molestation and for traveling to meet a minor. The victim is a 14-year-old girl who became acquainted with the suspect.
According to detectives, Willis and the victim became acquainted in January of 2009 through a social networking website accessed through cell phone e-mail and text messages.
Willis traveled by car from Georgia to Pinellas County in February and again in March of 2009 to meet the victim for the purpose of engaging her in sexual activity.
In April of 2009, the victim's father became aware of the out-of-state cell phone charges on his bill and contacted the Sheriff's Office.
Detectives then began their investigation by maintaining the communication originally established by the minor victim with Willis. A third meeting was set up to take place at an undisclosed Pinellas County location on June 1, 2009. Detectives arrested Willis at about 7:00am.
The suspect was arrested for two-counts lewd and lascivious battery on a minor; three-counts of lewd and lascivious molestation; three-counts of traveling to meet a minor; and two-counts of use of computer services prohibited.
