Internet Child Sex Sting Nabs Springfield Man: PWC Police

SPRINGFIELD, VA—A man who sent sexually explicit photos and videos over the Internet to a cop posing as a 12-year-old girl and then threatened to kill her was arrested last Friday, according to Prince William County Police.

Stephen Joseph Horn, 66, of the 7800 block of Cliffside Court in Springfield, was charged with use of a communication device to facilitate certain offenses involving minors, production of child pornography, distribution of child pornography, attempted indecent liberties with a minor, threats of death or bodily injury and threats to burn.

In late July, a Prince William County detective assigned to the Northern Virginia/DC Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force began an investigation of children being solicited via Facebook messenger. Horn took the bait, as it were, and began communicating with who he thought was an underage girl.

He sent the photos and videos, and requested "inappropriate photos from the detective in return." At one point, Horn became angry and threatened to kill the girl and burn down her family's house. Ultimately, on Sept. 21, he was arrested without incident after the execution of a search warrant at his home.

Image via Prince William County Police