30-Year-Old Texas Man Arrested For Solicitation of a Minor

A Lubbock man was arrested this past Friday. Benjamin Scott Kelley, 30, was arrested for online solicitation of a minor, according to court records obtained by KAMC.com According to the affidavit, on March 26, detectives conducted an online operation aimed at suppressing demand for child sex crimes.

During the operation, a Lubbock Police Department officer who was acting as a decoy, posted an advertisement on a website commonly associated with prostitution. The ad indicated two females who were new to Lubbock and invited individuals to inquire further.

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According to KAMC, the decoy got a text from Kelley. Officers were able to link the number to Kelley.

The decoy began communicating with Kelley, and during the conversation, the decoy stated she was 16 years old and said she had a friend who was also 16. Kelley continued communicating with the decoy and acknowledged the stated ages. Investigators said he made comments indicating awareness of their ages and discussed keeping the interaction discreet.

According Court documents, Kelley continued messaging the police decoy and expressed interest in meeting in person and engaging in sexual activity with the individuals he believed to be minors. During the texting back and forth, the decoy officer requested verification and Kelley sent multiple photographs of himself. Investigators said the images matched his Texas driver’s license and physical characteristics.

Kelley was arrested and booked in to the Lubbock County Detention Center. As of Tuesday, Kelley had bonded out of the Lubbock County Jail.