Man Used Snapchat To Solicit Teen For Sex, Cops Say

Bradenton, FL — A lengthy investigation by the Bradenton Police Department into the online activities of a Palmetto man resulted in a Friday arrest on a number of criminal charges.

According to Bradenton Police, Phillip Michael Dorics, 29, used Snapchat and other social media applications in an attempt to solicit a child he believed to be 14 to engage in sexual activity. Using the screen name of “Phildo282,” police say Dorics not only solicited for sex, he also sent nude pictures of himself to the person he believed to be a teenager.

The investigation into Dorics’ alleged actions began on Aug. 31, 2015, after police were tipped off he might be using the internet to engage in sexual activity with a child, the agency wrote in a media release.

On Friday, Dorics was charged with 16 counts of transmission of harmful material to a child, one count of sexual performance of a child and certain uses of computer services or devices prohibited. He was booked into the Manatee County Jail and remained there Friday afternoon, jail records indicate.

Detectives believe it is possible Dorics may have had other victims.

“The Bradenton Police Department is looking for anyone that may have had online contact with this subject,” Lt. James Racky wrote in an email.

Anyone with information in the case is asked to contact Det. Kevin Bunch at 941-932-9380. Anonymous tips may also be submitted through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-866-634-8477 or going online to www.manateecrimestoppers.com. Tipsters who contact Crime Stoppers by phone may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

Booking photo courtesy of the Bradenton Police Department 

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