Florida

Arizona man, 33, accused of traveling to Tampa to have sex with disabled girl, 14

 

Tampa Bay Times

A 33-year-old Arizona man was arrested Monday, accused of traveling to Tampa with the intention of meeting a disabled minor and engaging in sex acts.

Jonathan Lane, 33, had corresponded with a 14-year-old girl who uses a wheelchair for more than a year via computer and cellphone, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

The girl's father discovered the emails between Lane and his daughter and contacted Tampa International Airport's police unit. Officers detained Lane at the airport just after 5:30 a.m. and waited for deputies to arrive.

The two had exchanged messages containing "lewd and lascivious language" since June 2011, and Lane sent several lewd pictures of himself to the girl's computer, deputies said.

Early Monday, Lane traveled from Arizona to Tampa using tickets purchased by the teen using her grandmother's credit card, officials said. He had the intention of engaging in sexual activity with the girl, which he outlined over instant messages with her, deputies said.

Officials said Lane had full knowledge of the girl's age and physical condition.

Lane was charged with traveling to meet a minor, using a computer to solicit certain illegal acts, transmission of harmful material to a minor and lewd or lascivious battery.

He remains in Hillsborough County jail in lieu of $20,750 bail.

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