Man allegedly threatened to kidnap, impregnate 13-year-old
TRENTON, N.J. - A New Jersey man has been indicted by a state grand jury for allegedly stalking a 13-year-old girl on the Internet and threatening to kidnap and have sex with her, reports CBS Philly.
Officials say 23-year-old Craig Wyatt was trying to coerce the girl into sending sexually explicit photos. He was indicted on 10 counts of manufacturing child pornography, three counts of theft by extortion, three counts of criminal coercion, possession of child pornography, making terroristic threats and cyber harassment.
Authorities say Wyatt was previously convicted on five counts of terroristic threats for stalking other girls on Facebook and sending them threatening messages.
The new indictment says Wyatt and the 13-year-old girl met on Facebook in May of 2014. At first, he allegedly befriended the victim, who said she was 15, and sent her affectionate texts.
Authorities say after he obtained one or more nude photos of her, he became threatening.
During a series of texts via cell phone and Facebook, he allegedly repeatedly threatened to kidnap her or post photos of her on the internet if she did not meet his demands for sexually explicit pictures.
He allegedly said others were going to help him kidnap her, and he was going to take her away and impregnate her.
Authorities say a relative of the victim learned of the threats and contacted the State Police Digital Technology Investigations Unit, which then investigated and arrested Wyatt in October, 2014.
Detectives seized his cell phone and allegedly discovered 36 sexually explicit photos of the victim; 34 saved in his phone and two saved in his Facebook account.
"In case after case, we see this alarming pattern of a predator who befriends a young girl using the anonymity of the Internet and then quickly turns from a friend into a terrifying stalker," said New Jersey Acting Attorney General John Hoffman. "We urge parents to warn their children of these sexual predators, who ruthlessly exploit the fears of their young victims to gain control of them. We intend to make sure that Wyatt pays for the abhorrent crimes he allegedly committed against this child."
Wyatt was taken into custody in October of last year and remains in the Burlington County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail.