A 67-year-old Albuquerque man faces multiple felony charges after allegedly soliciting a minor through an online platform in an undercover investigation, according to court documents filed last week in Torrance County Magistrate Court.
The suspect was arrested Dec. 3 at a Speedway gas station in Estancia following a week-long investigation by local law enforcement, according to a criminal complaint filed by the Estancia Police Department.
The man faces three charges: child solicitation by electronic communication device, criminal sexual communication with a child and enticement of a child. All three are fourth-degree felonies under New Mexico law.
According to the complaint, an undercover officer created a profile on the social media platform Meet24 on Nov. 26, portraying a 15-year-old female from Moriarty. The suspect allegedly initiated contact that same day using an account identifying himself as a man in his mid-60s.
Court documents state the conversation escalated to sexually explicit content over several days, with the suspect allegedly sending graphic messages and unsolicited images of a sexual nature on multiple occasions between Nov. 26 and Nov. 27.
The suspect allegedly arranged to meet at the Estancia location, telling the undercover account he would bring gas money and a prepared meal. He was taken into custody at approximately 5:45 p.m. on Dec. 3 at the gas station.
The investigation was part of an operation targeting individuals seeking to exploit minors online.