37-year-old Leesburg man arrested after attempting to lure 14-year-old girl online
Port St. Lucie, Fl- PSLPD arrested 37 year old Leesburg, Fla man on the charges of obscene communication. The charges were use of computer to seduce, solicit, lure child, 5cts of cruelty to child – transmit info harmful to minors, and obscene comm – travel to meet after use of computer to lure child.
The investigation began in early July, 2018 when an undercover PSLPD Detective was conducting an Internet Crimes Against Children investigation. The detective found an add on the Doublelist website. The communication began between 37 year old Jonathan Mahowald and the detective posing as a 14 year old girl. During the course of the investigation Mahowald is reported to have sent several photos of his genitals to the detective. Then he arranged to meet the detective in PSL.Detectives set up at the meeting place and after Mahowald arrived in PSL from Leesburg he was arrested.
PSLPD is alerting parents to this type of activity and encourages parents to monitor their children’s use of cell phone/computers.
