Deputies Arrest 30-year-old Man in Sex Sting

Columbia (WLTX) -- Lexington County deputies arrested Friday a 30-year-old man they say solicited sex to who he believed to be a 12-year-old girl.

Deputies arrested 30-year-old Dennis Joseph Powell, Jr., of 6470 Eastshore Road in Columbia, and charged him count of criminal solicitation of a minor, one count of attempted dissemination of obscene material to a minor, and one count of attempted criminal sexual conduct with a minor.

If convicted on all charges, Powell would face a maximum sentence of 40 years.

Lexington investigators say on October 24, 2007, Powell solicited sex on the Internet from an individual he believed to be a 12-year-old-girl.

Investigators say Powell was actually communicating with a Lexington County Sheriff's deputy.

Powell is also accused of using a digital camera to photograph himself naked, and sending the image of who he thought was the underage girl.

Deputies say Powell also arranged to meet the child for sex somewhere in Lexington County. Powell was arrested when he arrived.

Investigators with Lexington and Richland counties say they seized a computer, a digital camera, an image scanner, a bottle of wine and other computer related items after executing a serach warrant on Powell's home.

Powell, who was assigned a $15,000 bond, is being held at the Lexington County jail.

Powell's arrest marks the 111th arrest for the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force