Steven Boose

PARKERSBURG – A Pennsylvania man who thought he’d been corresponding online with a 14-year-old girl was recently arrested by Parkersburg Police when he came to meet her, police announced Monday.

The man began exchanging messages in September with the female – who was actually a Parkersburg Police detective.

Steven James Boose, 35, of Littlestown, Pa., was charged Friday with one count of soliciting a minor and six counts of use of obscene matter with intent to seduce a minor, according to a post on the department’s Facebook page.

Soon after initiating the conversation, the post said, Boose was informed the other individual was 14, which he acknowledged. Over the course of approximately one month, the conversations continued to be “sexually driven” by the suspect, who sent half a dozen sexually explicit photos of himself. He also stated he would like to meet the juvenile in person.

On Friday, he sent a message that he was leaving his residence in Pennsylvania to travel to Parkersburg, the post said. When he reached the city and began traveling toward the predetermined meeting location, he was stopped by detectives and taken into custody.

When interviewed by detectives, Boose admitted he had traveled to Parkersburg to engage in sexual activities with the juvenile, the post said.

Boose was arraigned in Wood County Magistrate Court and is being held at the North Central Regional Jail on $70,000 bond.

He has prior convictions in Pennsylvania for open lewdness, indecent exposure and escape from custody, the post said.