A Pennsylvania man who police allege believed he was coming to West Virginia to have sex with an underage girl was recently arrested in Bridgeport, according to Lt. Detective Gary Weaver of the Bridgeport Police Department.

 

Weaver said that 25-year-old Christopher Durand of Uniontown, Pa., was arrested in the incident. He has been charged with soliciting a minor via a computer.

 

The crime is considered a felony. Weaver said if Durand is convicted he faces up between 2 and 10 years in prison.

 

The recent incident is one of dozens Weaver has been involved with in his work as part of the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force of the Bridgeport Police Department and also the Northern District of West Virginia Crimes against Children Task Force. The second unit of which Weaver is also a member falls under the FBI’s jurisdiction.

 

Weaver said he reacted to a post reading “Young Cute Girls? (Bridgeport)” and that started the process that eventually led to the arrest. Weaver posed as a 15-year-old female and engaged in conversation for a period of up to two weeks.

 

Eventually, Durand made his way to Bridgeport. At that time he was arrested without incident, Weaver said.

 

“There were no issues with the arrest,” said Weaver. “He admitted to placing the ad and admitted to the messaging, but claims he didn’t know how old the girl was.”

 

Weaver, who is at the forefront of battling this issue in the region, had a simple message for families who have children on the internet.

 

“Be aware of what’s going on with your children,” said Weaver. “Really pay attention and make a point to be a parent more than being a friend.”

 

Durand appeared before Magistrate Matt Osbourn.