Officers posed as a 15-year-old girl online.
(Vevay, Ind.) - Chatting on Facebook with what he believed was a 15-year-old girl led a 37-year-old man to attempt to meet her.
When he attempted to rendezvous with the girl, he was instead met by police.
Gary Lee Hancock, of Commiskey, is charged with Attempt to Commit Sexual Misconduct with a Minor (level 4 felony) and Child Solicitation (level 5 felony).
According to a probable cause affidavit filed in Switzerland County Court on November 12, Hancock initiated a Facebook Messenger conversation with an account that appeared to be a 15-year-old girl on August 4, 2017. What he didn’t know was that the account was actually operated by officers with the Switzerland County Sheriff’s Office and the Vevay Police Department.
Hancock had not messaged the fake account in over a year, but on November 6 he sent a new message. He allegedly made several comments sexual in nature and shared about sex acts he wanted to commit.
Hancock made plans to meet with the teen at a business in Vevay, stating that he would bring a condom with him.
Later that same day, Hancock showed up at the business and messaged again that he was there waiting. That’s when officers moved in and took him into custody.
During questioning, Hancock admitted that he drove from Madison to meet a 15-year-old girl. A condom was found in his pocket.
Hancock appeared in court on November 13. He bonded out of jail on November 19. A jury trial is scheduled for September 24, 2019.
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