The Izard County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of a man for internet stalking of a child.
21-year-old Ricky Rushing will face charges after an investigation involving the Sheriff’s Office and the Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children Division.
The Sheriff’s Office was notified that Rushing was making inappropriate comments to a 15-year-old girl.
The victim stated she had unfriended Rushing on Snapchat after a friend had told her he was “pedophile-ish.”
Rushing later attempted to add her as a friend again.
The victim’s mother then gave officers consent to use her daughter’s cell phone and assume her online presence on social media apps and any other necessary cell phone functions.
After gaining control of the cell phone and accepting the friend request Rushing had sent, he and the officer with the cell phone began a dialogue on Facebook Messenger.
Rushing inquired about her age, and the Officer responded, “I’m 15, why?” to which Rushing replied she was a little young and was sorry for bothering her.
The officer then asked Rushing how old he was, and he replied he was 21 and didn’t have relations with “just anyone.”
Court documents show this was the first sexual comment between Rushing and the officer.
He then asked the victim to meet him at a local restaurant but, then asked for her to meet him at his house in Oxford.
Later in the conversation between the officer and Rushing, he sent a photo of himself in the chat standing in the mirror wearing only underwear, and after more explicit sexual chat, Rushing then said they would meet at the Oxford City Park.
It was finally agreed they would meet at a business.
An officer was in an unmarked vehicle at that location and noted a black Ford truck driven by Rushing slowly approached the business but sent a text saying he had changed his mind and was not coming to the designated meeting area.
Rushing was arrested on Tuesday on a felony charge of internet stalking of a child.
His bond was set at $50,000, and additional charges are pending.
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