A Glendale man accused of going online to seduce a minor, but instead encountered undercover police, plead guilty last Tuesday.
Christopher Scott Barnes, 52, appeared last Tuesday in Hardin Circuit Court, where he entered a guilty plea to three counts of unlawful use of electronic means to induce a minor to engage in sexual or other prohibited activities and three counts of first-degree indecent exposure.
Christopher Barnes
Based on the plea offer from the Commonwealth, Barnes is expected to serve a 7-year prison sentence.
On Dec. 23, Officer Logan Helming with the Santa Claus Police Department in Indiana received a friend request from a social media account belonging to Barnes. The officer was operating undercover using the persona of a 13-year-old girl, according to police reports.
During the exchanging of messages, the officer identified the character as a teen multiple times, according to police reports. Barnes made sexually explicit comments to the decoy and sent multiple, unsolicited images of his body, according to police reports.
Barnes also reportedly suggested driving to meet her to engage in sexual activities.
His electronic devices were seized and a forensic examination will be conducted, according to police.
Barnes is being held at the Hardin County Detention Center and will appear in court Sept. 22 for formal sentencing.
