Norfolk officer poses as minor, catches man trying to get sexual favors on social media
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — 26-year-old Kenneth Tressler pleaded guilty on Thursday to child sexual abuse charges, a release states.
Officers caught Tressler while posing as a minor on social media. On April 17, 2023, Tressler responded to an anonymous social media post written by an undercover Norfolk Police officer posing as a 13-year-old. Although the post was not inherently sexual, Tressler asked the undercover cop for a sexual encounter. When the officer responded she was 13 years old, Tressler continued pursuing sexual favors, and conversed with the undercover cop for the next month.
Tressler repeatedly offered the undercover officer money in exchange for oral sex and other sexual activity, and he arranged to meet with the undercover officer on May 16. After Tressler arrived at the location where he had arranged to meet the undercover officer, investigators arrested him.
On Thursday, Tressler pleaded guilty to using a computer to procure a minor for obscene material, solicitation of prostitution from a minor under age 16, and attempting to commit indecent liberties with a minor under age 15 — all felonies. In exchange for Tressler’s plea, the Commonwealth agreed to dismiss additional counts of those offenses.
The plea agreement leaves the sentence totally in the hands of the sentencing judge. Judge Tasha D. Scott accepted Tressler’s plea agreement and set his sentencing on Oct. 11.
Check with WAVY.com for more updates.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
