Two men in separate investigations face felonies in Crow Wing County District Court in Brainerd for allegedly soliciting children for sex.
Brock Morgan Jones, 39, Aitkin, made his first appearance June 29 and Alexander John Coyne, 29, Detroit Lakes, made his first appearance June 28. Both were charged with soliciting a child to engage in sexual conduct, soliciting a child or believing to be a child through electronic communication to engage in sexual conduct and engaging in electronic communication relating or describing sexual conduct with a child.
On June 27, law enforcement in Crow Wing County conducted a proactive undercover chat operation, it stated in a court document. As part of the operation an investigator, posing as a 14-year-old juvenile female, communicated with Jones via an internet application. After a short conversation the investigator requested to switch to another media site. Jones said he would text and provided the "girl" with a phone number and conversation switched to text messaging. Jones asked the "girl" if she was 19 and the investigator responded she was not. Jones asked for a photo. After more conversation, Jones asked her how old she really is and the "girl" responded "14." Jones asked what she is looking for from the social media site, including whether she wanted "someone to have sex with." The "girl" responded with a non-committal answer, the complaint stated. After more discussion Jones suggested they could hang out and try having sex if the girl wanted. He asked how she could get out without getting caught. The "girl" explained she was home alone.
Arrangements were made for Jones to meet with the "girl" at a location in Crow Wing County. When Jones arrived at said location he was arrested. Jones admitted to law enforcement that he engaged in the discussion with a girl he believed to be 14.
On June 26, law enforcement conduct another proactive undercover chat operation and an investigator posed again as a 14-year-old female. The investigator, posing as the girl, contacted Coyne via an internet application and told him she was 14 and she had a friend as well. Coyne then initiated communication concerning the girl's sexual experience, as well as that of her friend. He volunteered to meet with the girl and her friend, and Coyne sent photos of himself as well, the complaint stated. Arrangements were made to meet and Coyne was arrested. He also admitted to law enforcement that he engaged with a girl he believed to be 14.
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