Monroe County Sheriff’s Office detectives arrested a 29-year-old man from Bedford, Indiana, on Thursday after police staged a meeting between him and a 15-year-old girl near Monroe Lake.
According to a Monroe County Sheriff’s Office press release, John Bartlett became a suspect in a child solicitation investigation after an adult discovered multiple messages between Bartlett and a 15-year-old girl.
In the release, Sheriff Brad Swain said Bartlett took a 12-year-old girl, a 15-year-old girl and the 15-year-old girl he messaged with to a field last week. He provided alcohol to the girls and asked one of them to engage in sexual acts with him. He asked the same girl if the other two girls would have sex with him, and she said no. Bartlett returned the children to their homes.
Swain said Bartlett and the victim continued to message back-and-forth after meeting in the field, which is when an adult discovered and reported their communication.
According to the release, Monroe County Sheriff's Office detectives pretended to be the victim and messaged Bartlett in her place. Bartlett requested they meet again, and detectives planned a meeting for Thursday night near Monroe Lake.
Detectives met Bartlett at Monroe Lake, patted him down and discovered meth. He was arrested on charges of child solicitation, possession of methamphetamine and furnishing alcohol to a minor. He was taken to the Monroe County Correctional Center where he has a $20,000 bond.
The investigation is active.
