Bentonville man faces charge of alleged Internet stalking
Posted on Friday, May 2, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/bcdr/News/61396/
BENTONVILLE — A Bentonville man will face up to 20 years in prison if he is convicted of Internet stalking.
Patrick Wade Carson, 24, is charged with Internet stalking of a child, a class B felony punishable with a prison sentence ranging from five to 20 years.
On Wednesday, Deputy Prosecutor Mike Armstrong filed the formal charge against Carson. He is accused of using a computer online service in an attempt to lure a 13-year-old girl into meeting for sexual purposes. However, the girl turned out to be an investigator for the Benton County Sheriff’s Office.
Carson was arrested March 27.
BCSO investigator Dennis Schumacher said Carson began communicating in October 2007 with another investigator who was online utilizing the faux profile of a 13-year-old girl. The person online identified himself as Mr 29922806. Investigators later identified him as Carson, according to a news release from the Sheriff’s Office.
Schumacher said the initial contact lasted for months, then stopped. But on March 26, Carson began communicating with Schumacher, who was online pretending to be a teenage girl. The communication was sexually suggestive, and Carson wanted to meet the girl, Schumacher said. A meeting was arranged for March 26, but Carson did not show up.
Carson then arranged another meeting and was arrested when he arrived at the location, according to court documents.
Carson was released from the Benton County Jail after posting $ 25, 000 bond.
His arraignment is scheduled for 8: 30 a. m. Monday in Circuit Judge Tom Keith’s court.