Tom MacCallum

Richmond County Daily Journal

Police say an Albemarle man who came to Rockingham to meet a 15-year-old boy for sex got arrested instead.

Police Chief Robert Voorhees said Ross Edwin Hill, 48, was arrested on a charge of felony soliciting a child by computer.

“He solicited sex from an undercover Rockingham police officer working cyber crimes,” Voorhees said. “Hill thought he had driven to Rockingham to meet a 15-year-old male child that he met on the computer. Instead, he met officers of the Rockingham Criminal Investigation Unit and SWAT Team members.”

During the arrest, Hill’s computer was seized. The investigation is continuing, Voorhees said.

Bond was set for Hill at $25,000 with a district court date set for June 18.

“The Rockingham Police Department is committed to fighting child sex predators and is using the latest technology, training and resources to help keep our community safe,” Voorhees said.

The Rockingham Police Department is a member agency of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

“This arrest is part of an ongoing investigation into predatory crimes committed against children on the Internet,” he said.

• • • • •

Two suspects arrested on similar charges recently by Rockingham police were sentenced last week in Richmond County Criminal Superior Court.

n Christopher D. Weeden pleaded guilty to misdemeanor attempting to use a minor for an obscenity offense via a computer. He was sentenced to 45 days in prison. The sentence was suspended.

n Robert Quentin Bailey pleaded guilty to misdemeanor attempting to enlist a minor through a computer contact. He was sentenced to 45 days in prison, suspended.

Both defendants are required to register as sex offenders.

Information on criminal activity may be reported anonymously to Richmond County Crime Stoppers at 997-5454. When leading to arrests, rewards may be offered for such information.

n Arrest reports published in the Richmond County Daily Journal are copied from local law enforcement records.