World National
©World National / Roger-Luc Chayer

Police Nab Computer Porn Suspect At Mall

Detectives arrested a 37-year-old man Friday afternoon who is accused of sending pornographic images via the Internet to who someone he thought was a 14-year-old boy.

Police found Ivan Garcia of Hallandale at the Pembroke Lakes Mall in Pembroke Pines where he was to meet up with the teenager -- who was really a police officer he met in an online chat room.

Investigators said that Garcia sent images of himself to the online acquaintance before agreeing to a meeting. Garcia has been charged with transmission of harmful material to a minor by electronic device and computer pornography -- which are both third-degree felonies.

During April or May 2001, Garcia met an actual 15-year-old boy on the Internet in a gay chat room, police said. The victim initially told Garcia that he was 18 years old, but later told him that he was only 15. Garcia allegedly replied that it was OK -- as long as he was not 80 years old.

Garcia is accused of exchanging telephone numbers with the 15-year-old, which resulted in phone sex. Police said that the relationship led to Garcia meeting the boy at a supermarket so they could go to another location to have consensual oral sex.

As a result of Friday's arrest, Garcia also faces charges of lewd and lascivious battery and lewd and lascivious conduct.