A Texas Department of Public Safety probable cause affidavit detailed a sting operation led to the arrest of a 24-year-old man who was attempting to solicit a 14-year-old girl.
LeRoy Montes was charged with online solicitation of a minor, a second-degree felony.
DPS detailed in the probable cause affidavit that on Jan. 12 special agents were conducting an undercover solicitation sting and posing as a 14-year-old girl. Montes responded to an advertisement posted on the internet.
Montes agreed to meet the undercover agent who was posing as the 14-year-old girl to engage in sexual conduct, the affidavit stated. Montes initially responded to the undercover agent’s advertisement on text messages utilizing the MeetMe application. Montes continued the conversation through text messages.
During the conversation, DPS details in the affidavit that the undercover agent posing as a 14-year-old girl told Montes “im 14 almost 15 tho.” Montes stated “ok thas koo.”
At 5:37 p.m., Montes arrived at a predetermined location to meet what he believed was a 14-year-old girl for the purposes of sex, the affidavit stated. Odessa Police Department detectives placed Montes under arrest.
During an interview, DPS says Montes made statements against his penal interest stating that he knew that the child was 14 and the conversation indicated they were meeting for the purposes of sex.
Montes was booked into the Ector County Law Enforcement Center on Wednesday, jail records show. He had one bond totaling $30,000 and he posted bail the same day.
