Joseph Hall wanted sex with a minor and instead, he was busted by an undercover cop
COLUMBIA, MD — Maryland State Police reports that a man who thought he was going to have sex with a child instead found his hookup would be in handcuffs, the style the cops carry. Police say that investigators from the Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) arrested a St. Mary’s County man on sexual solicitation related felony charges on May 30, 2016.
The accused is identified as Joseph Hall Jr., 31, of 37499 New Market Road in Charlotte Hall, Maryland. Hall was arrested at 7:30 a.m. without incident. He was charged by Detective Mathew Pitcher with the sexual solicitation of a law enforcement officer posing as a minor. Upon conviction, Hall faces up to ten years’ imprisonment and up to $25,000 in fines.
Police say that on Sunday, May 29, 2016, the Maryland State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force conducted a proactive operation involving the online sexual solicitation of minors. During the covert operation, Hall communicated online with an undercover police officer posing as a minor. He made statements expressing a desire to meet the minor and engage in sexual activity.
On Monday, May 30, 2016, Hall traveled to what police say is an undisclosed location in St. Mary’s County for the encounter. Shortly after 7:30 a.m. during the operation, Hall was arrested without incident and transported to the St. Mary’s County Jail for processing. Investigators from the Maryland State Police Computer Crimes Unit and state troopers from the Field Operations Bureau conducted the covert operation. He was released on bond the same day.
The Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force is organized under the Maryland State Police Computer Crimes Section. The task force is comprised of police agencies from around the state and its primary mission is to protect children from computer-facilitated sexual exploitation. The Task Force works cooperatively with law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to provide resources to combat these crimes. Additionally, the Task Force provides community awareness campaigns helping to prevent the spread of these crimes through education.
In 2011, with then-attorney and now Judge David Densford as his attorney, a domestic violence protective order was sought against him.