SARASOTA -- A 33-year-old man has been charged with sending pornographic images to a 15-year-old boy, according to the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office. The victim told investigators that earlier this month the suspect drove him to Bradenton where they had sex.
Michael Thomas Christner, was arrested early Monday after authorities executed a search warrant at his Sarasota home and found evidence that included more than a dozen pictures people having sex, as well as nude photos Christner sent to the boy, according to a Sarasota County Sheriff's Office news release.
"Christner reportedly met the victim through a social networking application in late December and the two communicated by text over the following couple of weeks," the release states.
Christner was arrested and charged with one count of using a computer to entice a child to engage in sexual Activity, one count of traveling to meet a minor to engage in sexual activity and 13 counts of the transmission of material harmful to minors.
He was being held at the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office on bonds totaling $750,000.
The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating the allegation that Christner had sex with the victim in Bradenton, according to Sarasota officials.
