Bridgeport Man Accused Of Soliciting 13-Year-Old Girl: Feds

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The defendant was arrested by federal authorities on Friday.

BRIDGEPORT, CT — A 36-year-old Bridgeport man was arrested Friday on on a federal criminal complaint charging him with "transfer of obscene materials to a minor, and enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity," announced United States Attorney John H. Durham and Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston.

Prosecutors allege that Jose Manuel Santos, a school bus/van driver, "was sexually soliciting a 13-year-old girl" who was a passenger on his school bus route.

"The mother of the minor victim provided the victim’s cell phone to investigators," wrote authorities in a statement. "Preliminary analysis of the cell phone revealed a sexually explicit photo of Santos that Santos sent to the minor victim, and text messages from Santos, including a text message asking the minor victim to send him a sexually explicit photo of her."

Santos appeared Friday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven and remains in custody.

The charge of transfer of obscene materials to a minor carries a maximum prison term of 10 years. Enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity carries a mandatory minimum prison term of 10 years.

U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that a criminal complaint is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy V. Gifford.

Image via Shutterstock

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