Proctorville man faces 3 charges: Police say suspect traded e-cigarettes to children for obscene photos
Published 12:58 pm Friday, May 31, 2019
PROCTORVILLE — A Proctorville man has been charged with theft, importuning and tampering with evidence after police said he gave a teenage girl e-cigarettes in exchange for obscene photos.
James Friedman Jr., 20, of 317 Ferry St., in Proctorville, was charged in Lawrence Municipal Court on May 28.
According to a post on the Proctorville Police Department Facebook page, an officer was contacted by a concerned parent that a male, employed at a local gas station, was giving his 16-year-old daughter e-cigarettes. The parent said he was aware the employee was trading the e-cigarettes for obscene photos of the underage female.
Police said they opened an investigation and identified the employee as Friedman. The department said they spoke with numerous underage children and one alleged Friedman had solicited sexual conduct from her in exchange for the e-cigarettes.
The case was presented to Lawrence County prosecutors and Friedman was arrested.
Police say the investigation is ongoing and more charges are possible.
They advised all parents to talk to their children about the dangers of social media, as Friedman was alleged to add the girls on Snapchat and attempt to trade the photographs.
Friedman’s next hearing on the three charges is set for June 7. Anyone with information on the case is urged to contact the Proctorville Police Department at 740-886-6366.