Braxton County man arrested for allegedly attempting to solicit a minor via social media

BUCKHANNON – A Braxton County man was arrested early Thursday morning at North Buckhannon Riverfront Park for allegedly attempting to solicit a minor via a computer.

Randall W. White, 44, of Sutton, was arrested for solicitation of a minor, a felony.

According to the criminal complaint in the Upshur County Magistrate Clerk’s Office filed by Patrolman First Class Angel McCauley with the Buckhannon Police Department, on May 19, 2022, White traveled to North Buckhannon Riverfront Park to meet who he believed to be an underage female he had been communicating with via social media. However, McCauley had been operating the social media account, posing as a 15-year-old female.

During the interaction starting May 8, 2022, the underage female did state she was 15 years old at least twice and that she was in school, according to the report. During the course of the conversation, White allegedly asked the female to “make sweet love” after learning she was a virgin and asked if she had ever showered with anyone before. According to the report, he then allegedly asked if he could perform oral sex on her while they showered together.

The initial plan was to meet May 18, 2022, at the North Buckhannon Riverfront Park but due to unknown delays, the actual meeting did not occur until approximately 1 a.m. on May 19, 2022.

White allegedly came to the agreed-upon place set during his conversation with the person he believed to be the 15-year-old female. White had previously sent the social media account a full-length picture of him wearing a SpongeBob shirt, with a West Virginia baseball cap during one of the stops that was made while traveling from his residence in Braxton County to the meeting place. White was wearing the same outfit when he showed up to meet the 15-year-old.

Upon arriving, White allegedly walked to the meeting place from the parking lot but was stopped by McCauley and Sgt. Marshall O’Connor with the BPD.

Upshur County Magistrate Mark Davis set bail at $25,000 cash only.