Man Seeking Sex With 15-Year-Old Busted
Man Seeking Sex With 15-Year-Old Busted Save Email Print
Contacted undercover investigator posing as girl
Posted: 2:50 PM Jan 12, 2009
 Last Updated: 3:24 PM Jan 12, 2009
 Reporter: Mark Schneider
Email Address: sixonline@wowt.com
33 comments
A | A | A

A York, Nebraska man was arrested over the weekend on suspicion of violating Nebraska's online child enticement law. He allegedly contacted an undercover investigator posing as a 15-year-old girl on an instant messaging Internet site.

An investigation by Lincoln Police and the Nebraska attorney general's office found 30-year-old Joshua Hoover used both a computer and his cell phone last week to engage in sexually-explicit conversations with the investigator, sent nude pictures of himself and later set up a time and location to meet for a sexual encounter.

Police arrested Hoover in Lincoln on Saturday.
More Stories
Court: Omaha Drug Bust Illegal

Girl Rescued From Pool Doing Better

Driver Gets Probation In Teen's Death

Motorcyclist Killed In Crash

 Holiday Enforcement Nabs Drunk Drivers

Lake Assault Could Bring Charges

Omaha Senator Considers Run For Congress

Report: Plane Quit, Restarted, Quit & Crashed
Post Your Comments
First Name:
Location:
Enter Comments: characters left
Email (optional):
By posting this comment I have read and agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy:
You must agree to the Terms of Service to continue.
Read Comments
Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.
Posted by: to Don on Mar 11, 2009 at 03:49 AM
I know it's hard for you to understand. It sounds like you are just trying to justify your own actions. Good luck.
Posted by: mom on Mar 2, 2009 at 12:17 PM
To Don, Your right, this guy probably doesn't have a daughter......he is probably 40 yrs old and lives in his momma's basement doing who knows what.
Posted by: To MaX on Feb 16, 2009 at 02:20 AM
Read the online enticement law. The perps have to believe it is an underage person they are talking to, meaning when a perp asks for age information the cops lie and tell them 14 or something younger. And the law states that the perp is not allowed to entice a underage person OR A COP that is playing as an underage person. The intent of the perp is what is being enforced. Meaning these sick people know exacting what they are doing and what they want. They just happen to ask a 30 year old cop instead of their intended victim a 14 year old girl. For my money I would rather these sick people meet an Officer and get arrested then anyone's daughter.
Posted by: MaX on Jan 14, 2009 at 01:31 PM
Wow, you're right, we all have to be careful not to be trapped into a crime--especially when so many of those underage girls at concerts and movies look over 18. It just feels like being arrested for shoplifting when someone else dropped an item in your pocket. Sure, you committed the act-- you removed the item from the store without paying for it, but you had no idea you were doing anything wrong. You were set up. It just doesn't seem right!
Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 14, 2009 at 11:43 AM
Dude, 15 will get ya 20!
Posted by: rob on Jan 14, 2009 at 11:12 AM
Why is anyone even trying to make excuses or remotely defend this guy in any way shape or form? They need to bring back public humiliation for these pedophiles. Honestly no punishment imaginable is too bad for these sickos. Intent alone is enough for me to justify almost any punishment.
Posted by: To Don on Jan 13, 2009 at 09:53 PM
The crime is conspiring to commit the crime with a thought to be 15 year old girl. If this guy knew he was corresponding with an adult, but wanted them to pretend like they were 15 to get his jollies then there is no crime. He thought he was going to be meeting a 15 year old girl for sex. I would assume Don that you have no daughters because I would find it hard to believe that if you did, you would think your 15 year old was mature enough to decide to have sex with some 30 something she was talking to on the computer. The only reason social and sexual maturity comes earlier these days is because the society has pushed it on us and tried to make it the norm. It does not have to be the norm for 12 to 17 year old girls to think they have to show off as much of their bodies as possible to be cool or accepted. When society stands up and says that is not right it will go back to the more conservative ways. No greater societal good has come from at 14 year old's cleavage sticking out.
Posted by: stop on Jan 13, 2009 at 07:24 PM
so many of you need to stop blaming the girl she is the VICTIM
Posted by: Don on Jan 13, 2009 at 05:47 PM
I have had several problems with these new sex crimes laws of the past 15 years. First, like in this case, there is no 15 year old girl...there is instead an imaginary 15 year old who is actually a police investigator. In other words, there is no real victim. Second of all, I don't understand how a 15 year old (if there was an actual person who was solicited) can be a victim if she agrees to meet this man to have sex. If he threatened her or blackmailed her, such as a teacher who threatens to give her a bad grade if they don't have sex, then I would understand the crime. My father said these kinds of cases back in the 60's were unheard of. He said he knew people in their 20's who would date 14 or 15 year olds all the time providing the parents would allow it. If I was on the jury in this case, I would acquit. Even if an actual girl was solicited, I believe age should be an only an element, not a means to an end. Besides, social and sexual maturity comes earlier these days.
Posted by: R on Jan 13, 2009 at 04:04 PM
Our children, C-H-I-L-D-R-E-N, need to be protected. This man knew what he wanted...he was not blindsided. And to 'Crazy', so some of our distant relatives married young...we do not need to continue doing the same thing. Just because something has been considered acceptable in the past, does not mean it should be acceptable today!!
Posted by: jon on Jan 13, 2009 at 02:54 PM
It shocks me with all the media coverage of the predator series and weekly stories like this moron. I would think this would be the last way you would try to pick up a young girl. It amazes me how stupid people are---seriously sending pictures of yourself??? even if it not an undercover cop--if it is a teen girl-she is using her computer at home alot of parents check their childrens activities and contacts online. I really think some of these yahoos want to be caught.
Posted by: Wow on Jan 13, 2009 at 02:36 PM
Use some common sense MaX, if you meet that girl at a highschool basketball game then you should probably be looking for your dates elsewhere. If you meet her in a bar with a fake ID that shows she is 21 and she doesn't have a 10pm curfew set by her parents then perhaps you'd have a hard time convicting that person. The law is written to cover your scenario as far a child enticment. If the guy thinks he is talking to a child and plans to meet the person for sex thinking they are a child then that violates the law. If he meets the 30 year old guy and hooks up with him then that act is not illegal. Disturbing yet not illegal. ;0)
Posted by: Billy on Jan 13, 2009 at 02:01 PM
Even if you are stupid enough to get on sites and proposition someone who is supposedly of age, please don't be stupid enough to send nude pictures of yourself. Have some respect for yourself.
Posted by: Crazy on Jan 13, 2009 at 01:26 PM
75 years ago 14 yr old girls were getting married. Look up you family trees, people. Are you saying your grampa was a perv? LOL!
Posted by: MaX on Jan 13, 2009 at 12:24 PM
I don't get it. If I'm a guy, and I meet a 15-year-old girl who looks older and has a fake ID saying she's older, I can be convicted of statutory rape for unknowingly having sex with a minor. Now, if a guy online tries to pick up a 15-year-old girl who turns out to be a 30-year-old male cop, how can law enforcement justify arresting him, when he never came on to a 15-year-old girl? The law contradicts itself in these cases.
Posted by: BillyBob on Jan 13, 2009 at 12:12 PM
Orig Cop - you are right. the statute reads 16 if the other party is over 19 yrs of age. Job positions or titles do not matter.
Posted by: The Original Cop on Jan 13, 2009 at 10:02 AM
Sorry Elizabeth but you are mostly wrong! There is no such stipulation anywhere in the statute that says anything about 2 years older etc. The 16 year old babysitter can consent with their much older employer as you put it. Your last line is correct that the first degree sexual assault statute says than a person 19 or older is not allowed to have relations with anyone UNDER 16 (statutory rape if you will). There is also no law regarding employer, teacher, coach etc. An adult teacher legally can have relations with anybody 16 or older in Nebraska. That is why there have been teachers that have done that and not been arrested. However it is obviously frowned upon and that teacher etc. will likely never work in the state and hopefully country as a teacher ever again. If you would like to quote me the statutes that you are referring to I would be happy to look into them and admit my error if that's the case, but I'm pretty sure I know what I'm talking about.
Posted by: Barb on Jan 13, 2009 at 09:27 AM
Apparently, this idiot never watched Chris Hansen on Dateline with the undercover cops posing as young girls..it was the "To Catch a Predator" series. Maybe he did see it but thought he would never get caught. Some of the idiots admitted to seeing the show went on the internet anyway trying to hook up with underage girls. A judge needs to throw the book at this moron.
Posted by: jj on Jan 13, 2009 at 07:37 AM
i can apreciate that,but what are these girls doing on the internet? they seem to be looking for guys. should we have a law that stops facilitated sex on line.
Posted by: Richard on Jan 13, 2009 at 06:51 AM
Here's a thought... for all of the "men" that feel the urge to have sex with children/teenagers, when they eventually get caught, castrate them and let them spend the rest of their lives urinating through a tube in prison. "A little sever" you might say, but I can almost gaurantee that it would have a very profound effect on a whole lot of perverts.
Posted by: Joe on Jan 12, 2009 at 11:20 PM
Elizabeth - State law says that the age of consent is 16 period. If you are 19 you can not have sex with anyone younger than 16 but if you are 18 and your girlfriend is 15, it would be legal. The law doesn't change if you are in a postion of power or not, the 16yr old and 32yr old could legally have consenual sex, the law doesn't change if the person is in a 'position of power'. It remains 16.
Posted by: No big deal on Jan 12, 2009 at 09:08 PM
He's not as bad as that teacher molesting that 13 yr old boy, right?
Posted by: J on Jan 12, 2009 at 08:38 PM
Kudos to WOWT for posting his picture online so that everyone sees it. Society has been too lenient on these predators in the past, but I believe that we are starting to evolve and realize the damage these monsters cause our children. Thanks again to WOWT for doing your part to help expose these dispicable predators.
Posted by: Elizabeth on Jan 12, 2009 at 08:03 PM
well... In Nebraska, a person who is at least 17 years of age may consent to sex with an adult. As in other states, however, the age of consent is a complex concept in Nebraska. Under the Nebraska age of consent laws, a person who is 16 usually can legally consent to sex with someone who is no more than 2 years older. So, a 16-year-old babysitter could legally consent to sex with her 18-year-old boyfriend, but not with her 32-year-old employer. In general, when the older person is in a position of power over the younger one, such as an employer, teacher, coach or religious leader, the age of consent is 18 or even 21. Under the Nebraska age of consent laws, it is first-degree sexual assault for a person who is 19 years old or older to sexually penetrate a person under the age of 16 years. The penalty for this crime is a period of 1 to 50 years in the state penitentiary.
Posted by: Viewer1 on Jan 12, 2009 at 04:48 PM
For every one the police catch, I wonder how many gets away...
Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 12, 2009 at 04:31 PM
He will be slapped on the wrist until he actually hurts a Minor. Our Court system treats these Perverts like it's no big deal until the damage is done. This Piece of Garbage needs to be locked up for good. He knows what he is doing is WRONG and did it any way. We must protect our Children from those who wish to harm them.
Posted by: Frank Hardy Lvr on Jan 12, 2009 at 03:45 PM
he deserves to rot in jail for the rest of his life.
Posted by: anonymous on Jan 12, 2009 at 03:42 PM
you are so nasty! what there aren't women out there your age that will go for you that you have to mess with the youngins? SICKO!
Posted by: Anon on Jan 12, 2009 at 03:19 PM
What is with these pervs? 16 is legal in Nebraksa and that still isn't young enough for them. Have fun in jail buddy.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 12, 2009 at 03:15 PM
Uh oh. Looks like this guy needs to speak with Chris Haaansen.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 12, 2009 at 03:11 PM
What a sicko!
Posted by: concerned on Jan 12, 2009 at 03:09 PM
string him up !!!!
Posted by: A on Jan 12, 2009 at 03:03 PM
Sicko.
Special Sections