BUCKHANNON – A Buckhannon man is being held on an $80,000 cash-only bond after he was arrested for allegedly sending sexual messages and pictures to a minor and traveling to meet her.
Robert Radcliff, 26, was arrested for solicitation of a minor, traveling to meet a minor, display of obscene matter to a minor and obscene matter with intent to seduce a minor, all felonies.
According to the criminal complaint in the Upshur County Magistrate Clerk’s Office by Deputy TR Collins with the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office, on Saturday, March 19, Collins received information about Radcliff allegedly sending messages to a 15-year-old female juvenile.
Radcliff allegedly messaged the female, “U are 18 or older right?” to which the female replied, “I’m 15.” Radcliff allegedly said, “Hmmmm what will your parents say?” and “Would I get in trouble for being with you?”
The female responded, “Nah why you say that?” and Radcliff replied, “Because I’m 26 almost 27.”
Radcliffe then told the female, “tbh women ur age needs to be with guys my age less likely to get hurt you but I could love you and be with you and treat you like a queen,” according to the file. Radcliff allegedly told the youth that he wanted “a forever to be married kids and die together or nothing else.”
After asking the female several personal questions, Radcliff allegedly sent a sexually explicit picture to the 15-year-old. According to the report, Radcliff sent several sexual text messages to the female and on March 19, he agreed to meet her at the North Buckhannon Riverfront Park off near Cleveland Avenue. He told her he would be driving a black Ford truck.
Collins was sitting at the same park when he saw a male enter the park in a black Ford truck. The truck parked near him, and Collins was able to positively identify the driver as Radcliff from the pictures he sent to the female. Radcliff was arrested and admitted to messaging her but stated he, “was going to go to her parents.” He was interviewed at the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office where he admitted to sending those messages and the sexually explicit picture.
Magistrate Alan Suder set bail at $80,000 cash only.
The penalty for a conviction of solicitation of a minor is confinement in a state correctional facility for not less than two nor more than 10 years, a fine of not more than $5,000, or both.
Additionally, the penalty for traveling to meet a minor is imprisonment in the state penitentiary for a determinate sentence of five to 30 years, a fine of up to $25,000 or both.
The penalty for display of obscene matter to a minor is confinement in a state correctional facility for not more than five years, a fine of up to $25,000 or both. Finally, the penalty for use of obscene matter with intent to seduce a minor is confinement in the state penitentiary for not more than five years, a fine of up to $25,000 or both.
