Fergus Falls Man Arrested for Sexually Messaging a “14-Year-Old”

Braxton Anderson. (OTCDF)

Fergus Falls, MN – A Fergus Falls man was arrested for soliciting a minor after an online concerned citizen group posed as a 14-year-old girl.

Police say an adult representative of the group reached out at around 9:30 a.m. Friday, July 24, to inform officers that 41-year-old Braxton Anderson had sent sexually explicit messages with them under the impression that they were a 14-year-old girl. They also said Anderson planned to meet with the fake teen north of Fergus Falls. The representative confronted Anderson at his home and subsequently called police.

Investigators reviewed evidence presented by the representative and arrested Anderson after an interview. Police say Anderson told them that he had, “just talked to some girl online that I shouldn’t have.” He stated he did not go through with anything, but he “thought about it.” He also told the police that he thought he was talking to a 14-year-old girl.

A search warrant was conducted at Anderson’s residence to locate and seize the devices used for communicating to the reported 14-year-old. While searching for the devices, police discovered about 7.54 grams of methamphetamine.

Anderson made his first court appearance Monday morning and has been charged with three related counts of electronic solicitation of a minor and 3^rd degree drug possession in a park zone.