Four Md. Men Arrested for Sexual Solicitation of Officers Posing as Minors

COLUMBIA, Md. (May 26, 2016)—Maryland State Police investigators from the Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) arrest four men, involved in four separate incidents, on sexual solicitation related felony charges.

The accused are identified as Alexander Christensen, 24, of Glen Arm; Rafael Constante, 28, of Frederick; Ryan Parham, 31, of Columbia; and Tracey Dove, 49, of Annapolis. All four are charged with the sexual solicitation of a law enforcement officer posing as a minor. Upon conviction, they each face up to ten years imprisonment and up to $25,000 in fines.

On Tuesday, May 24, 2016, the Maryland State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force conducted a proactive operation involving the online sexual solicitation of minors. During the covert operation and in two separate incidents, Christensen and Parham communicated online with an undercover police officer posing as a minor. Both men made statements expressing a desire to meet the minor and engage in sexual activity.

Both Christensen and Parham, again acting individually, traveled to an undisclosed location in Howard County for the encounter. Shortly before 8:00 p.m. during the operation, Parham was arrested without incident and transported to the Howard County Detention Center for Processing. At 8:30 p.m. that same night, Christensen was also placed under arrest and transported to the Howard County Detention Center.

The two additional subsequent arrests of Dove and Constante also resulted from similar proactive investigations. Shortly before 5:30 p.m. yesterday, Constante was arrested after he traveled to an undisclosed location in Howard County. He was taken into police custody without incident and transported to the Howard County Detention Center. Today, shortly after 10:30 a.m., Dove was arrested without incident after traveling to an undisclosed location in St. Mary's County. He was transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center.

Investigators from the Maryland State Police Computer Crimes Unit and state troopers from the Field Operations Bureau conducted the covert operations. Assistance was provided by the personnel from Homeland Security Investigations.

The Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force is organized under the Maryland State Police Computer Crimes Section. The task force is comprised of police agencies from around the state and its primary mission is to protect children from computer-facilitated sexual exploitation. The Task Force works cooperatively with law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to provide resources to combat these crimes. Additionally, the Task Force provides community awareness campaigns helping to prevent the spread of these crimes through education.