Western Kentucky man accused of online solicitation of minor

CARLISLE COUNTY, Ky. – A western Kentucky man is facing charges related to alleged online solicitation of a minor.

According to a social media post by the Carlisle County Sheriff’s Office, 22-year-old Jeremiah Rudolph of Bardwell was arrested after a multi-agency investigation.

Authorities say Rudolph is facing multiple felony warrant charges stemming from an investigation that started in Panama City Beach Florida in January.

According to the sheriff’s office, the Panama City Beach Police Department was contacted by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding the possible distribution of a sexual performance of a minor on Snapchat.

Authorities say the department’s Criminal Intelligence Unit began investigating the case.

The agency says by April, it was able to identify the owner of a Snapchat account as Jeremiah Rudolph of Bardwell.

In early April, investigators from the Criminal Intelligence Unit contacted Chief Deputy Ben Green and asked for assistance with the investigation, authorities say.

According to authorities, Green located Rudolph, and during an interview with him, Green was able to confirm Rudolph had been communicating with the female minor.

Authorities say Rudolph confessed he had been having inappropriate conversation with her as well.

Green made Rudolph’s case file available to investigators, and based on evidence he obtained, authorities say Panama City police obtained arrest warrants for Rudolph for solicitation of a minor for sexual acts via the internet.

On Wednesday morning, Rudolph was arrested at his home without incident.

The Panama City Beach Police Department will be seeking to extradite Rudolph to Florida for prosecution.