(WFRV) – A Missouri man is facing two charges after allegedly trying to meet a minor while he was working at the Brown County Fairgrounds.
According to a criminal complaint obtained by Local 5, 40-year-old Brian Bradley was arrested Aug. 18 while working at the Brown County Fairgrounds. A human trafficking operation involving an undercover escort advertisement was used to target people who were interested in soliciting minors for commercial sex.
On August 18 around 16:15 a phone number contacted the secret number. The secret number was listed in an ad for online dating. The number was later identified as Bradley contacting the undercover agent.
A text exchange between Bradley and the undercover agent included a direct mention that the ‘girl’ was ‘almost 16’. Bradley kept asking for pictures and the conversation ended up turning to how Bradley was working at the Brown County Fair.
He reportedly told the agent he would give her a stuffed animal if she would come to the fair. Just after 8:15 p.m., authorities took Bradley into custody without incident.
Bradley’s phone was confirmed to be the same one that had contacted the undercover agent. He told authorities that he would not have had sex with the minor, but simply provided her with money to enjoy the games at the carnival.
He ended up agreeing that the situation ‘didn’t look good’ and said he was confused.
Bradley was charged with:
- Using a computer to facilitate a child sex crime
- Criminal offense
- Up to 40 years in prison
- Seduction of children
- Criminal offense
- Up to 25 years in prison
Court records show Bradley was scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 19 at 2 p.m. No additional information was provided.
