A West Virginia man was apprehended Friday after reportedly attempting to meet with what he thought was a 15-year-old girl for a sexual encounter.
Curwensville Police arrested Benjamin Carlton Engle, 31, of Springfield, West Virginia, on February 21, 2026.
According to police, Engle interacted with an undercover decoy posing as a minor on social media for several weeks.
According to authorities, Engle sent nude photographs of himself as well as explicit messages describing how he planned to sexually abuse the decoy.
The meeting was scheduled to take place in Curwensville Borough.
When cops detained Engle at the site, they discovered a 5-year-old child in the backseat of his car.
Clearfield County Children & Youth Services took custody of the child at the scene of the arrest.
The Clearfield County District Attorney’s Office and 814 Pred Hunters provided aid with the investigation.
The matter has been referred to the FBI for additional investigation.
Engle is charged with attempted unlawful contact with a minor, attempted involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a person under the age of 16, attempted aggravated indecent assault on a person under the age of 16, two counts of minor corruption, and criminal use of a communication facility.
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