05-12-2006, 06:50 PM
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/topst...ryid=57469
Quote:NEPTUNE BEACH, FL -- A First Coast man is behind bars after police say he posed online as a 16-year old girl to lure a teen victim into forced sex.
27-year-old Travus Earl Belden is charged with attempted sexual battery on a minor, false imprisonment, and battery. His alleged victim -- a 14-year old Neptune Beach boy.
Police who arrested Belden say he told them he was planning to harm the boy.
"He (Belden) said that his intentions were sexual and violent in nature and he intended to do the young boy harm," said Neptune Beach Sergeant Ryan Hall.
Police say Belden created a MySpace internet account posing as a 16-year-old girl and chatted for weeks with the 14-year-old victim.
They decided to meet.
Sergeant Hall described how Belden planned to meet the 14-year-old boy in their online chats.
"He said, 'I'd like to meet you' as a 16-year-old girl, but you have to meet my brother first --he's 17. You want to make sure that there's nothing weird going on and make sure that you're a decent guy," said Hall.
Police say Belden, now posing as a 17-year-old 'brother,' picked the teen up at Jarboe Park in Neptune Beach, stopping at the Day's Inn on Atlantic Boulevard.
"He told the boy he needed to drop something off for a friend who was staying at the hotel," said Sgt. Hall.
"And when they got inside (the room) the suspect locked the door behind him, and the victim realized at this time something wasn't right and tried to leave, and the suspect wouldn’t let him leave."
But Sgt. Hall says, the teen fought back.
"The victim was able to fight his way out of there."
The boy escaped with scrapes and bruises, but police say it could have been far worse.
"The suspect had told me that his intention was to force the victim into sex."
First Coast News spoke with the boy's mother, who said she had been extremely careful to bring her child up in an atmosphere of safety.
"From the time he was a little boy he knew never to go with a stranger," she said.
"We've had code words that if a stranger tried to pick him up he'd know to ask for the code word and run for help if the stranger couldn't give the right answer," she said.
"But I am amazed that this online person was able to gain his confidence over the course of a few weeks of chatting."
Both the victim and his mother declined an on-camera interview, but both are grateful for the outcome.
"Luckily my son is very strong, and the guy (Belden) is a little guy so he couldn't overpower my son."
Police caution parents to try to know what their teens are doing online and suggest moving computers out of the teen’s bedrooms to more public rooms like living rooms or dining rooms.