POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A West Palm Beach man is behind bars in Polk County after allegedly grooming a 14-year-old girl online and traveling to meet her for sex.
22-year-old Emerick Priddy was arrested early Saturday morning after deputies found him in a parked car with the victim. Both were partially undressed.
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The investigation revealed that Priddy met the victim on Snapchat and convinced her to sneak out of her home in the middle of the night. He then drove from West Palm Beach to Polk County, where the victim climbed out of her bedroom window to meet him.
Priddy initially lied to the victim about his age, claiming to be 17 years old. Despite knowing she was only 14, he proceeded to engage in sexual activity with her.
“Emerick Priddy picked the wrong county to come to and sexually batter a child,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. “He’s now facing five felonies and hopefully will be registered as a sexual offender for the rest of his life.”
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Priddy was arrested and booked into the Polk County Jail on multiple charges, including:
- Traveling to meet a minor for sex
- Lewd battery
- Transmission of material harmful to a minor
- Interference with child custody
- Use of a two-way communication device in a felony
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