The man told the boy’s parents he had traveled from California to meet the teen, deputies said.

PINELLAS COUNTY – An Idaho man sent sexually inappropriate pictures and videos of himself to a teen then traveled to Pinellas to meet the boy, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said.

Chad Michael Lesch, 28, of 902 Second Ave. E in Jerome, ID, was charged with eight counts of transmission of harmful material to a minor and one count of traveling to meet a minor.

The investigation began Thursday (Feb. 16) after the parents of the 17-year-old victim called deputies to their home. The victim’s parents told deputies that a man who identified himself as Lesch showed up at their home wanting to meet their son.

Deputies said Lesch told the boy’s parents that he traveled from California to Pinellas County to meet the teen. Lesch said he knew the boy was only 17 years old, and he was willing to wait to pursue a relationship with the victim until he was legal age. Lesch left the boy’s home after telling the parents that he was staying in a local hotel.

Deputies said they found that Lesch engaged the teen in an online relationship beginning in December. Deputies found several sexually inappropriate photographs and videos of Lesch on the boy’s cell phone. Lesch used internet messaging applications Kik and Skype to send the inappropriate photographs and videos.

On Sunday (Feb. 19), Largo police located Lesch during a traffic stop and notified deputies. Lesch was taken to the Sheriff’s Administration Building, 10750 Ulmerton Road, in Largo, where he was interviewed by deputies who said he admitted the allegations.

For information about the Pinellas sheriff, go to pcsoweb.com.

Pinellas Sheriff | Crime | Arrests | Pinellas Arrests | Idaho Man Arrested | TB Reporter

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