Man Charged With Traveling To Minn. For Sex With 8th Grader

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Federal officials say a 55-year-old Georgia man faces charges for allegedly traveling to the Twin Cities in an attempt to have sex with a 13-year-old girl.

The U.S. Attorney's Office says John James Denicola, of Suwanee, made his first appearance Tuesday in federal court. He's charged with traveling to engage in illicit sexual conduct and attempted coercion.

According to officials, Denicola initiated a conversation in late February on teenchat.com with an undercover officer whom he believed to be an eighth grader.

In his messages, Denicola asked questions that were sexual in nature, sent a photo of himself and said that he'd previously traveled to Nebraska to see a girl, court documents show.

While Denicola appeared to be concerned that person he was messaging might be an undercover officer, he still planned a meet-up.

He told the officer that he was traveling to the Twin Cities on March 7 and booked a room at a hotel in Bloomington. He also planned to bring a video camera to the rendezvous.

Officials say Denicola was arrested inside the hotel room after traveling to nearby stores to pick up flowers, balloons and condoms.

Denicola's next court appearance is slated for Friday.