Rome News-Tribune

Police seek help in online child sex investigat­ions

- From staff reports

Floyd County police are asking for help from the public in connection with an investigat­ion into the activities of a Rome man suspected of trying to form illicit relationsh­ips with children online.

Christophe­r Minter, 28, of a Melton Avenue address, is accused of forcibly assaulting one juvenile and trying to lure another on social media. He is being held without bond on charges of rape and obscene communicat­ion with a child.

According to the Floyd County Police Department release:

Melton was arrested at his home in West Rome by investigat­ors on April 16 after warrants were signed by a Floyd County magistrate that allege criminal conduct from March.

Floyd County Police investigat­ors were referred the initial case by the Rome Police Department after details revealed Minter allegedly befriended a teen walking down the road in March. The suspect and victim began communicat­ing on social media and one day she again asked for transporta­tion. Minter agreed and took the 16-year-old victim to a location where he forcibly raped the teen.

Prior to knowing about the sexual assault, police investigat­ors had already been in contact with Minter online, when he popped up on social media and began engaging an officer who represente­d herself as a 14-year-old child.

Minter immediatel­y questioned her age and pushed a sexually charged conversati­on. Investigat­ors allege that Minter insisted on meeting the child to engage in sex acts at her home.

He then instructed “the child” to delete all of her messages.

Police are concerned about the pattern of simultaneo­us conduct with separate young victims who were unrelated, and are asking for assistance from the public.

If anyone has informatio­n about Minter or the pair of investigat­ions, please contact detective@floydcount­yga.org or call investigat­ors at 706-235-7766.

 ??  ?? Christophe­r Haven Minter
Christophe­r Haven Minter

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