GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) – Marion County Sheriff’s deputies are charging a Georgia resident with numerous counts of inappropriate behavior with a minor.
These charges include the sale of obscene material with a minor, promoting sexual performance by a child, obscene communication using a computer to seduce, solicit, or lure the child, and human trafficking for commercial sexual activity of a child.
Zachary Colbert, 33, was arrested Saturday morning and is being held at the Marion County Jail.
Marion County Sheriff’s deputies started their investigation on Colbert back in mid-March, when a minor brought forward her online conversations with him.
The 17-year-old girl was concerned about the messages she shared with Colbert since they involved drugs and sexual activity.
The minor had admitted to previously messaging older men for money. She claims to have met them on Addchat, a dating app. However, the minor says she never had to do anything with the older men for money, besides chat with them.
She said during this time Colbert reached out to her.
The two had been Facebook friends for almost ten years at the time of the incident.
The two continued to talk over Facebook Messenger, Snapchat, and text between mid-January and late February.
The girl claims she felt uncomfortable when Colbert would call her “pretty” and repeatedly asked her for photos.
When asked for inappropriate pictures, the teen asked for money in exchange. The girl sent a photograph over Facebook messenger and was paid by Colbert. He then offered to send her pictures, and when she declined, he sent three unsolicited inappropriate photos to her.
The teen told investigators she believed Colbert lived in the Allatoona or Cartersville area of Georgia, and had a daughter around eight-years-old. She said she was “grossed out” by Colbert asking for these pictures, knowing he had a young daughter, and his daughter’s friends visited frequently.
Marion County Sheriff’s deputies issued a warrant for Colbert.
Colbert turned himself in to Bartow County Sheriff’s Office in Georgia. He was then brought to Marion County jail where he is being held without bail.
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