Council Iowa - Bluffs man arrested for alleged date with young 'girl' by Nebraska Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force
Chad Nation , Staff Writer 01/27/2007
La Vista, Neb. - The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in Nebraska arrested a Council Bluffs man Thursday night for allegedly trying to meet an underage girl over the Internet.
The girl turned out to be an undercover police officer.
John A. Metteer, 23, was arrested by police officers from several Nebraska agencies after he pulled into an arranged meeting place, said La Vista Police Chief Bob Lausten.
Lausten said Metteer was charged with sexual assault-use of a computer, a felony in Nebraska.
Lausten said an officer with the ICAC Task Force went online Thursday, posing as a young female. Within minutes of entering a chat room, Lausten said the officer was barraged with questions asking for age, gender and location.
Metteer allegedly propositioned the officer and agreed to meet at an undisclosed location. When Metteer arrived in the parking lot of the meeting place, law enforcement officers were waiting.
Lausten said the Nebraska law states that charges can be levied against an offender if either the victim or the offender's computers are in the state.
He also said Metteer could face enticement charges in Iowa and federal charges because the crime crossed state lines.
"It's scary what is happening online," Lausten said. "If we could dedicate a full-time officer to just (pose as a minor), you would be amazed by the number of these predators we could knock off."
The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation served a warrant on Metteer's residence Friday, DCI Special Agent Nate Teigland said. Lausten said he believed a computer used for the online encounter was seized from the residence.
The ICAC Task Force agencies involved in the operation included the La Vista, Bellevue and Papillion (Neb.) Police departments, the Sarpy County (Neb.) Sheriff's Office, the Nebraska State Patrol and the United States Postal Inspector.
Retrieved January 27, 2007 from http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17772647&BRD=2703&PAG=461&dept_id=555106&rfi=6
La Vista, Neb. - The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in Nebraska arrested a Council Bluffs man Thursday night for allegedly trying to meet an underage girl over the Internet.
The girl turned out to be an undercover police officer.
John A. Metteer, 23, was arrested by police officers from several Nebraska agencies after he pulled into an arranged meeting place, said La Vista Police Chief Bob Lausten.
Lausten said Metteer was charged with sexual assault-use of a computer, a felony in Nebraska.
Lausten said an officer with the ICAC Task Force went online Thursday, posing as a young female. Within minutes of entering a chat room, Lausten said the officer was barraged with questions asking for age, gender and location.
Metteer allegedly propositioned the officer and agreed to meet at an undisclosed location. When Metteer arrived in the parking lot of the meeting place, law enforcement officers were waiting.
Lausten said the Nebraska law states that charges can be levied against an offender if either the victim or the offender's computers are in the state.
He also said Metteer could face enticement charges in Iowa and federal charges because the crime crossed state lines.
"It's scary what is happening online," Lausten said. "If we could dedicate a full-time officer to just (pose as a minor), you would be amazed by the number of these predators we could knock off."
The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation served a warrant on Metteer's residence Friday, DCI Special Agent Nate Teigland said. Lausten said he believed a computer used for the online encounter was seized from the residence.
The ICAC Task Force agencies involved in the operation included the La Vista, Bellevue and Papillion (Neb.) Police departments, the Sarpy County (Neb.) Sheriff's Office, the Nebraska State Patrol and the United States Postal Inspector.
Retrieved January 27, 2007 from http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17772647&BRD=2703&PAG=461&dept_id=555106&rfi=6