Another man arrested in Facebook child sex sting

Police arrested yet another suspect over the weekend for allegedly using the social media site Facebook to lure a 14-year-old female to meet him for sex.

Justin Anthony Kurpiel, 31, was taken into custody on Saturday for luring a child with a computer for sex acts after Nye County Sheriff’s detectives said they received information that he had been chatting with an underage female on Facebook for the purpose of having sex with her.

According to a declaration of arrest in the case, when detectives reviewed messages between Kurpiel and a female Facebook user who identified herself as being 14, they allegedly found that Kurpiel had acknowledged the girl’s young age and made reference to the fact that law enforcement agencies sometimes conducted stings to catch men trying to lure girls her age to have sex with them.

At the end of their two-hour conversation, Kurpiel allegedly arranged to meet the female at the intersection of Vicki Ann Road and Pluto Street to have sex. Police said he also indicated he would bring drugs with him as well.

Around 4:30 p.m. NCSO detectives responded to the intersection and found Kurpiel waiting on the corner. Kurpiel was placed under arrest and during a subsequent interview with police allegedly admitted to chatting with a 14-year-old female on Facebook.

Police stated Kurpiel was apologetic while speaking with detectives and agreed investigations like this one were necessary to ensure the safety of young girls in the community.

Kurpiel was then transported to the Nye County Detention Center to be booked into custody. As of Tuesday afternoon, he remained there in lieu of $50,000 bond or $4,995 cash.

This is the fifth arrest local police have made in the last month concerning adult males allegedly attempting to lure a 14-year-old female via Facebook to meet them and engage in sexual activities.

On March 19 police arrested Joel Smith, 23, William Speakman, 26, and Robert Lee Hurley III, 20, for the same offense. On March 17, 22-year-old James Ross was also arrested for allegedly luring a child with a computer for sex act as well.

The Nye County District Attorney’s Office filed official charges against Ross, Smith and Speakman last week, charging them each with one count of using tech to lure child, a category B felony.

Further details, including about whether all of these arrests are part of a broader effort, were not available by press time. Sheriff Tony DeMeo said more information would be made public at a later date.