32-year-old Matthew Lynn Gardner arrested on his way to have sex with 13-year-old

Posted: Oct 03, 2011 10:38 AM CDT Updated: Oct 03, 2011 3:02 PM CDT
By Jason Old - email
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

ORANGEBURG, SC (WIS) - A Bishopville man is under arrest accused of soliciting sex from a 13-year-old Orangeburg boy that he met at a wrestling match.

Orangeburg County Sheriff Leroy Ravenell said 32-year-old Matthew Lynn Gardner was arrested Saturday and charged with criminal solicitation of a minor.

Ravenell said the two met at a wrestling match in August and began communicating through Facebook. Gardner eventually set up a rendezvous with the teen on October 1, but before that happened, the teen's parent contacted law enforcement, according to the sheriff.

Investigators were able to quickly identify Gardner and were waiting for him when he arrived in Orangeburg on Saturday, the sheriff said.

Ravenell said he's grateful the teen's parents were monitoring his communications to allow Orangeburg County investigators to be in place Saturday when Gardner arrived from Hartsville. "I cannot imagine what kind of case we would be investigating today had those parents not contacted us," Ravenell said.

Investigators said Gardner asked for nude photos of the boy, and offered to send nude photos of himself as well. A police report describes the graphic language Gardner allegedly used in messages sent to the teen.

A judge set Gardner's bond at $35,000 during a hearing Monday afternoon in Orangeburg County.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

A 32-year-old Hartsville man has been accused of soliciting sex from a 13-year-old Orangeburg youth.

"Matthew Lynn Gardner befriended the victim during a wrestling match in August of this year. Gardner then began contacting the teen through Facebook requesting a meeting with him on October 1. The teen's parent contacted law enforcement and investigators quickly identified Gardner," Orangeburg County Sheriff Leroy Ravenell said in a release Monday.

Gardener was arrested Saturday on a charge of criminal solicitation of a minor. He is accused of sending emails stating in graphic language his desire to have sex with the teen.

"We are grateful this teen's parents were monitoring his communications to allow us to be in place Saturday when Gardner arrived from Hartsville. I cannot imagine what kind of case we would be investigating today had those parents not contacted us," Ravenell said.

Read more: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

October 3, 2011 -

Who is your teen talking to on Facebook?

The parents of a 13-year-old caught a 32-year-old man trying to solicit sex from their son and reported him to the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Department, officers said Monday.

On Saturday, sheriff’s deputies arrested Mr. Matthew Lynn Gardner for second-degree attempted criminal sexual conduct with a minor and sexual solicitation of a minor, the sheriff’s spokeswoman Ms. Keisa Gunby Peterson said.

Mr. Gardner befriended the teen during a wrestling match in August and began contacting him through Facebook, requesting a meeting with him on October 1, Ms. Peterson said.

“We are grateful this teen’s parents were monitoring his communications to allow us to be in place Saturday when Gardner arrived from Hartsville,” Sheriff Leroy Ravenell said. “I cannot imagine what kind of case we would be investigating today had those parents not contacted us.”

Mr. Gardner, who lives in Bishopville, was given a $50,000 bond, Ms. Peterson said.
Advertisement

Teens of this generation are the most digitally connected with almost 9 million of teens 13 to 17 years old reportedly using Facebook.

An estimated 54% of teens between 13 and 14 years old have a Facebook page; and teens between the ages of 15-17 spend approximately 19.9 hours online every week.

"Where children go, sex offenders will follow,” according to the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre. “The first step is getting parents to acknowledge and understand that risk."

For tips on Facebook teen safety, go to: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

to the Parents who were monitoring their Son's facebook page.