A 65-year-old Newcastle man was arrested after attempting to meet with a 13-year-old girl in a decoy operation in Culver.
The Culver Police announced Joseph Morgan, 65, of New Castle, was arrested October 2 on charges of child solicitation, a Level 4 Felony; attempt to commit dissemination of matter harmful to minors, a Level 6 Felony; and sexual grooming via a computer network, a class A misdemeanor.
According to police, an online organization had contacted about Morgan making plans to meet with the child in the Culver Town Park after engaging in inappropriate conversations with the decoy online. Court documents state Morgan also allegedly sent nude photographs of himself to the decoy.
Morgan had travelled more than two hours from New Castle to meet the decoy. While Morgan was at the park, officers were dispatched to the scene and witnessed the online organization reporter speaking with Morgan, who verbally agreed he had came to meet with a 13-year-old juvenile named “Kate.”
It was reported that Morgan told police “Kate” is not the only individual he’s been talking to, but she is the only one who is 13. Morgan denied planning to have sex with “Kate,” telling officers he traveled to Culver to take the girl out to eat.
Morgan has booked at the Marshall County Jail and is currently being held without bond.
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