Mounds View Man Charged With Soliciting a Child in Stearns County

ST. CLOUD (WJON News) -- Nearly a year after an online conversation began between a Mounds View man and an undercover police officer posing as a 14-year-old girl, felony charges have been filed.

According to the criminal complaint filed in Stearns County District Court, in January of 2023, 44-year-old Zachary Meyer began chatting in an online forum where the solicitation of children often takes place. Investigators say the conversations were limited over the next several months.

In late June, court records indicate the conversations turned sexual and were initiated by Meyer. The charges also allege Meyer sent the undercover officer a pornographic video clip.

Meyer was arrested Tuesday and charged with the solicitation of a child, describing sexual conduct with a child using electronics, and distributing sexual material to a child through electronics.

In an interview with investigators, Meyer allegedly said he has numerous conversations with others and it is just role-playing. He also denied sending any explicit materials to whom he thought was an underage girl.

READ RELATED ARTICLES

LOOK: What Christmas was like the year you were born

To see how Christmas has changed over the last century, Stacker explored how popular traditions, like food and decorations, emerged and evolved from 1920 to 2021 in the U.S. and around the world.

Gallery Credit: Stacker

LOOK: Holiday gift crazes and fads of the past century

Stacker compiled a list of toy crazes from the past 100 years.

Gallery Credit: Jennnifer Billock

25 Creepy Vintage Christmas Ornaments You Won't Believe Were Made

Sure, you could decorate your Christmas tree with adorable ornaments that will sparkle and shine during festive family gatherings. Then again, you might be better off choosing ornaments that will ensure some of your family never return. We recently scoured eBay and found some of the creepiest vintage Christmas ornaments that will put a scare into your guests this holiday season.

Gallery Credit: Rob Carroll

Filed Under: stearns county district court

Categories: courts, From the WJON Newsroom, St. Cloud News