A Sikeston, Missouri,was arrested and charged with sexual crimes involving a child.
Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter said Zachary Caleb Neal, 23, of Sikeston is charged with first-degree statutory sodomy and enticement of a child.
Walter said an investigation revealed Neal met the 12-year-old victim through a social media website. Sexually-focused Internet conversations led to Neal meeting the victim at the child's residence, and Walter said Neal had sexual contacts with the child.
Contact between Neal and the victim continued until a family member of the victim discovered correspondence between the two.
Neal was interviewed by an investigator Friday afternoon and admitted to the sexual contacts. Bond is set at $50,000.
Connect with the Southeast Missourian Newsroom:
For corrections to this story or other insights for the editor, click here. To submit a letter to the editor, click here. To learn about the Southeast Missourian’s AI Policy, click here.