CHARLESTON, W.Va.
A Charleston Police officer is in jail after he was arrested Friday night on sex charges out of Virginia.
Officer Sean Patrick, 30, is accused of soliciting sex with a minor over the Internet. He is facing state charges and was arrested as the result of an FBI investigation that also involved the sheriff's department in Loudoun County, Virginia.
In a news release from the Loudoun County Sheriff's office, Patrick allegedly propositioned over the internet someone he understood to be a 14-year-old girl.
He covered his face as he headed from the Kanawha County Courthouse to a police vehicle Friday night. WSAZ.com was the only news crew to get video of the person believed to be Patrick.
He is a patrolman who's been on the police force since 2005.
A warrant was issued and officer Patrick was arrested when he showed up for his regular shift at the Charleston Police Department Friday night.
Patrick's arraignment at the Kanawha County Courthouse was sealed off from the media. Magistrate Tim Halloran refused any access to the courtroom or paperwork, telling WSAZ that we can pick it up on Monday. WSAZ's crew was told that Halloran ordered the doors locked and no one allowed access to the courtroom.
Charleston Police Chief Brent Webster tells WSAZ that Patrick will be suspended without pay and an internal investigation has already been launched.
Webster also says that he does not have reason to believe that any police department computers were involved in any of the alleged activity, but that will be also part of the investigation.
The charge against Patrick is: usage of a communications system or other electronic means, for the purpose of soliciting, with lascivious intent, a person he knew or had reason to believe was a child under the age of 15. If found guilty, he can face 1 to 10 years behind bars and/or a fine of up to $2,500.
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