The detective was posing as a 14-year-old Boone County boy
A 34-year-old Jefferson City man has been arrested on suspicion of online crimes involving minors.
Authorities from the Boone County Sheriff’s Department Cyber Crimes Task Force, working with Jefferson City Police, took Nicholas Bax into custody Friday morning.
Bax started emailing with an undercover detective, who he thought was a 14-year-old Boone County boy, on September 14.
After exchanging several messages, their communication moved to text messaging, which continued through October 6.
Bax is reported to have enticed and encouraged the fictional teenager into meeting to engage in sexual conduct. He allegedly attempted to actually meet the boy after the child supposedly snuck out of his house late one night, but Bax couldn't find him.
It is also believed Bax sent the detective a sexually graphic photograph of himself. Bax also apparently attempted to persuade the child to send him sexually graphic photos.
The emails and text messages reviewed in this investigation were traced to Bax. A search warrant was executed at his residence Friday morning, and several items were seized, including the cell phone allegedly used and a computer. Bax was then arrested and taken to the Boone County Jail in Columbia, where he is awaiting the filing of formal charges by the Boone County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Bax was arrested on suspicion of the attempted enticement of a child, the attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, and the attempted sexual misconduct of a child. Bond has not yet been set.
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