MORA, MISSOURI -- Deputies arrested a Mora, Missouri man on suspicion of the enticement of a child and use of a child in a sexual performance.

Thursday the Boone County Sheriff’s Department Cyber Crimes Task Force arrested 33-year-old Jason Ray Zimmerschied as a result of a joint investigation with the Pettis County Sheriff’s Department.

The investigation of Zimmerschied began in May when an investigator with the Boone County Sheriff’s Department Cyber Crimes Task Force was masquerading as a 14-year-old Boone County girl on the Internet when she was contacted by the suspect.

Between May and July the suspect is alleged to have contacted the decoy child numerous times through the Internet and cell phone.

During conversations the suspect allegedly solicited the child to engage in sexual conduct with him and encouraged and persuaded the child to engage in a sexual performance over the Internet.

The Internet and cell phone transmissions were traced to the suspect and his residence near Mora in southern Pettis County.

Boone County investigators and the Pettis County Sheriff’s Department obtained a search warrant for the suspect’s residence and seized several different articles of evidence including two computers and thumb drives.

Later on Thursday night investigators arrested Zimmerschied on suspicion of the enticement of a child and use of a child in a sexual performance and took two cell phones. 

He is in the Boone County Jail awaiting formal charges.