Two men charged by Bradenton officers with trying to seduce a minor

Two men charged by Bradenton officers with trying to seduce a minor

BRADENTON -- Two men were arrested this week on charges of traveling to meet a minor for the purpose of having sex, according to the Bradenton Police Department.

From April 2 through April 6, police said Benjamin Joseph Halpern, 31, of Palm Bay, and Ezequiel Barrera-Santana, 29, of Plant City, communicated via the internet with a child they believed to be 14 years old. According to the release, Halpern and Barrera-Santana used cellphones to solicit sexual activity.

BPD detective Kevin Bunch posed as a 14-year-old girl online with Halpern and Barrera-Santana.

On Tuesday, police said Halpern drove a 2008 Chevy Impala to a Starbucks, 102 Manatee Ave. E., Bradenton, to engage in sex with a person he believed to be a minor. Police took Halpern into custody when he arrived, according to the release.

The next day, Barrera-Santana drove a 2006 Toyota Prius to the same location to engage in a sex act with a person he believed to be a minor. Police took Barrera-Santana into custody when he arrived, the release states.

Halpern was charged with lewd or lascivious offenses, traveling to meet after using a computer to lure a child, using a computer to seduce/solicit a child, and transmission of material harmful to minors. He was released Friday from Manatee County jail on bonds totaling $19,000, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office website.

Barrera-Santana was charged with lewd or lascivious offenses, traveling to meet after using a computer to lure a child, and using a computer to seduce/solicit a child. He was held in Manatee County jail without bond, according to the sheriff's office website.

This story was originally published April 8, 2016 at 10:00 PM with the headline "Two men charged by Bradenton officers with trying to seduce a minor ."