Corpus Christi police officer arrested for online solicitation of a 15-year-old girl www.privateofficer.com

CORPUS CHRISTI TX April 12 2012—A more than four-year veteran of the Corpus Christi Police Department was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of online solicitation of a 15-year-old girl.

 Robert Lee McChester Jr., 27, was arrested at his attorney’s office by police with assistance from federal officials, police said. On April 3, the teen made an outcry in a Corpus Christi hospital, alleging McChester had been messaging her online during the past year, some of which was sexual in nature.

Corpus Christi police launched an internal investigation that day and six days later turned their findings over to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents, a branch of the Department of Homeland Security, who secured a warrant for McChester’s arrest. “We are ready, willing and able to clean our own house,” Police Chief Floyd Simpson said during a news conference Tuesday evening at the police station. Simpson said McChester, a patrol officer, was placed on administrative leave with pay pending an outcome of the investigation. The Police Department will continue a disciplinary review, which could result in McChester being fired, Simpson said.

The teen alleged the contact began in May 2011 via the Internet and they continued communicating for the next year up until her complaint, federal officials said. The online messages were recovered by investigators, who said they appeared sexual in nature, police said. The teen also told police the pair had met several times and engaged in inappropriate activity.

 Police would not release more details citing the ongoing investigation. When the allegations surfaced, Simpson said the Police Department made it a priority to act quickly and professionally. “It’s an unfortunate situation not only for McChester and the victim, but the entire CCPD family,” he said. McChester is set to appear Wednesday in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge B. Janice Ellington.
Source:Caller.com