HOMESTEAD, Fla. — A Homestead man is facing serious charges after police said he was caught trying to meet with an underage boy for sex acts.
It turns out the teenager that the suspect thought he was texting was actually an undercover Homestead police officer, according to an arrest report.
According to investigators, the suspect, identified as Wesley Javier Benitez, 23, was using undisclosed online platforms and thought he was messaging with a 15-year-old boy.
In text messages that were included in his arrest form, Benitez asked for the teen to send him selfies while asking about his sexual experience despite the teen saying he was currently at school.
According to his arrest form, Benitez told the teen he was 20 years old despite actually being 23.
In the messages, Benitez also attempted to get the teen to send nude pictures and provided his home address, though they eventually agreed to meet halfway, per the arrest form.
Benitez also sent a photo of a penis to the teen after asking for one in return.
When he arrived to the meet-up location, Benitez was taken into custody without incident, police said.
Investigators said Benitez confessed to texting with the teenage boy and agreeing to meet with him for sexual activities.
He is facing several felony charges, including use of a computer device to seduce, solicit or lure a child to engage in sexual conduct and promotion of a sexual performance by a child.
As of Wednesday morning, Benitez was being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center with his bond listed as “to be set.”
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