BUCKHANNON – A Kanawha County man was arrested Thursday for allegedly traveling from Charleston to Upshur County to engage in sexual activity with a minor.
Brandon Shawver, 23, of Charleston, was arrested May 26 for soliciting a minor via computer, 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 Thursday, May 26, 2022, Shawver allegedly messaged someone “who he presumed to be a 14-year-old female.”
The complaint does not say whether Shawver sent the message on social media or what platform he allegedly used to make the contact. However, the report says Shawver subsequently drove from Charleston to Buckhannon to meet up with the female.
“Brandon did drive from Charleston, WV to Buckhannon, WV to an undisclosed location to engage in sexual activities with the underage female,” McCauley wrote. “Upon arriving at the undisclosed location, Brandon was apprehended by the Buckhannon Police Department.”
The report also notes that Shawver allegedly had “condoms in his pocket, which was discussed in the messages exchanged between him and the minor.” After he was advised of his Miranda rights, Shawver allegedly sign a waiver and admitted to “coming to Buckhannon, knowing the minor was 14 years old to engage in sexual intercourse.”
Upshur County Magistrate Alan Suder set bail at $75,000 cash only. The penalty for a conviction of soliciting a minor via computer is a fine of up to $25,000, imprisonment in the state penitentiary for a determinate sentence of not less than five nor more than 30 years or both.
