2008 Woodie Awards
Student arrested for online scandal
Jamie Schnieder
Issue date: 1/25/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Michael Carr '07 was arrested at a train station in Doylestown, Pa., on Fri., Jan. 19. He was charged with using the Internet to arrange for sex with a minor. According to an article in the January 20th issue of The Morning Call, Carr exchanged a number of messages, some of them sexually explicit, with what he thought was a 12-year-old girl, but was actually an undercover agent.
Carr made arrangements to meet the "girl" Friday and was arrested in the parking lot of the train station.
Carr is charged with one count of attempted unlawful contact with a minor (a first-degree felony), one count of criminal use of a computer and another count of attempted unlawful contact with a minor for sending sexually obscene material (third-degree felonies). He faces up to 20 years in prison and a $20,000 fine if convicted of the first-degree felony, and up to seven years in prison and $15,000 in fines if convicted of the third-degree felonies.
According to the 1/20 edition of The Call, an investigation into Carr's behavior began after a woman told police that Carr had been speaking with her 14-year-old daughter online and was trying to meet with her in New York City. As a result, Special Agent Michael A. Miletto of the Child Predator Unit posed as a 12-year-old girl named Jennie, creating a fake screen name and MySpace.com profile. The two began to exchange messages in November.
In an e-mail sent to all members of the College community, President Helm said, "I believe I speak for all of the Muhlenberg community in saying that we are deeply troubled by the events that have transpired and find the alleged behavior to be appalling and unacceptable. The College has cooperated and will continue to cooperate with law enforcement officials throughout this process."
Carr is currently taking a leave of absence from the College. If and when he chooses to return to the College, he will go through the judicial process at the appropriate time.
Carr made arrangements to meet the "girl" Friday and was arrested in the parking lot of the train station.
Carr is charged with one count of attempted unlawful contact with a minor (a first-degree felony), one count of criminal use of a computer and another count of attempted unlawful contact with a minor for sending sexually obscene material (third-degree felonies). He faces up to 20 years in prison and a $20,000 fine if convicted of the first-degree felony, and up to seven years in prison and $15,000 in fines if convicted of the third-degree felonies.
According to the 1/20 edition of The Call, an investigation into Carr's behavior began after a woman told police that Carr had been speaking with her 14-year-old daughter online and was trying to meet with her in New York City. As a result, Special Agent Michael A. Miletto of the Child Predator Unit posed as a 12-year-old girl named Jennie, creating a fake screen name and MySpace.com profile. The two began to exchange messages in November.
In an e-mail sent to all members of the College community, President Helm said, "I believe I speak for all of the Muhlenberg community in saying that we are deeply troubled by the events that have transpired and find the alleged behavior to be appalling and unacceptable. The College has cooperated and will continue to cooperate with law enforcement officials throughout this process."
Carr is currently taking a leave of absence from the College. If and when he chooses to return to the College, he will go through the judicial process at the appropriate time.