A Sedalia man is in custody after reportedly attempting to solicit sex with a teenage girl.
James E. Stark, 41, of the 1500 block of South Harrison Avenue, was arrested about noon Thursday on a charge of enticement of a child.
The arrest stemmed from a public post made Sunday from an online dating account. Stark appeared to be in communication over the online dating site with a person who said she was a 14-year-old girl, according to a Sedalia Police Department arrest report.
Stark was reportedly unaware an adult was actually operating the account. He asked several times if the girl would have sex with him and said he didn’t want to get in trouble for having sex with a minor, according to the report.
An SPD officer arrested Stark at his home and placed him on a 24-hour hold at the Pettis County Jail. He has not yet been charged in Pettis County Circuit Court.
Stark was sentenced to two years in the Missouri Department of Corrections in 2014 after he pleaded guilty to felony abuse or neglect of a child. He was sentenced to 180 days in jail in 2006 on a guilty plea to felony first-degree endangering the welfare of a child. A Pettis County judge sentenced him to 30 days in jail last year after a guilty plea to fourth-degree assault.
SPD encourages citizens not to entice potential online predators. If anyone discovers a possible child predator, contact police with the related information.
