Essex Man Charged with Child Sex Offenses: Police

A 47-year-old Essex man has been charged with multiple sex offenses after allegedly attempting to pick up a 13-year-old girl so he could have sex with her, police said.

John William Ransier, of the 500 block of Stemmers Run Road, has been charged with sexual solicitation of a minor, attempted third-degree sex offense and attempted second-degree rape, according to a statement from the Baltimore County Police Department.

Ransier is being held without bail, police said.

According to the statement from police, an undercover Baltimore County detective posted an ad online on Nov. 25 that Ransier responded to with a picture of a naked man.

When the detective replied on Dec. 15 and posed as a 13-year-old girl, police said Ransier ”talked about wanting to have sex and perform sexual acts” with the teen.

After a Dec. 22 meeting was arranged in Baltimore County, Ransier arrived to pick up the 13-year-old girl to bring her to his house and instead found police waiting for him, the statement said.

Ransier was taken into custody without incident and is being held without bail at the Baltimore County Detention Center, according to police.

Booking photo of John William Ransier courtesy of the Baltimore County Police Department.