Docs: Anderson man arrested in undercover child sex crimes operation

ANDERSON, Ind. -- An Anderson man was arrested after an undercover operation led to him being caught soliciting sex from who he thought was a 14-year-old, according to law enforcement.




According to court documents filed in Madison County, 35-year-old Kenneth Menifee Jr. was charged with one count of child solicitation, a Level 4 felony. Menifee was also charged with a misdemeanor count of resisting law enforcement.

Menifee was arrested as part of a series of arrests by the Hamilton County Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force earlier this month, according to previous reports. As part of these arrests, law enforcement officials arrested eight individuals related to child sex crimes, including Menifee.




On May 7, the task force reportedly created a post on social media that included a phone number. The number reportedly went to an undercover officer with the task force. That evening, a man later identified as Menifee, contacted the phone number.




In the conversation, the undercover officer reportedly told Menifee that she was a 14-year-old and the two agreed to a "QV" for $50, implying a quick sexual exchange for money. The documents said that around 9:19 p.m. that evening, Menifee traveled to a location in Anderson to meet with who he thought was the 14-year-old.








When Menifee approached the location, he walked to the front door of a home. The documents said that Menifee was reportedly met at the front door by a detective, causing Menifee to "immediately" turn and run from the location.




Officials allege that Menifee was eventually taken into custody after being chased by law enforcement. Menifee was reportedly found with a driver's license that belonged to him, $80 in cash as well as an unopened box of condoms.




In an interview with law enforcement surrounding the incident, Menifee reportedly said he believed he was talking with a 14-year-old and his intent was to meet up with her for sex.




"Menifee stated that he was stupid and decided to meet up with her for sexual intercourse," the documents read. "...Menifee stated that his first instinct was to run and that he was also afraid that he was going to get in trouble for meeting up with a 14-year-old."








During the interview, Menifee reportedly told officers that he had used social media previously to meet up with women and pay for sex. Menifee told officers that this was the first time he met up with a girl who was 14.




Menifee's initial hearing occurred on May 13, according to court documents filed in Madison County.





via: https://fox59.com/news/indycrime/docs-anderson-man-arrested-in-undercover-child-sex-crimes-operation/