Smiths Grove man appears in court for solicitation case

WARREN COUNTY, Ky. – There are new updates to a local online solicitation case.

News 40 previously reported on Joshua Petersen, who was turned in by a social media influencer.

Petersen is currently charged with procuring or promoting the use of a minor by electronic means. He was released from the Warren County Regional Jail on a $2,500 bond.

Leading up to his arrest, he was exposed by a social media group known as the Predator Poachers, run by Alex Rosen.

Rosen states that his group was notified by someone about Peterson. They then went on to pose as an underage child and a mother, recording phone calls and text messages of Petersen.

News 40 did receive the investigation file from Rosen, which we will not show due to the extremities of content and context.

Tuesday morning, Petersen was seen in court in front of Honorable Judge Brent Potter for his pre-trial. Potter reminded Petersen of non- financial conditions he is charged with during the brief encounter in court.

Potter stated Petersen cannot have new law violations and no internet or social media use with any unknown individuals or anyone under the age of 18.

His pre-trial conference has been moved to Oct. 27 at the Warren County Courthouse.

We will continue following this story.