Ringgold man charged with sexual exploitation of a child and computer pornography

RINGGOLD, Georgia(WDEF) – A man who met a 15-year old Michigan girl online is now facing one count of sexual exploitation of a child through computer pornography and one count of enticing a child for indecent purposes.

Jonathan Rodriguez, 20, of Ringgold was booked into the Catoosa County jail on Wednesday.

The case against Rodriguez began when Catoosa County Sheriff deputies received a call from a detective in Lenawee County Michigan. Law enforcement in Michigan were looking for a 15-year old runaway who was said to have been picked up by Rodriguez last Saturday.

When deputies arrived at Rodriguez’s home they found him and the 15-year old girl from Michigan.

According to the arrest report, Rodriguez told detectives that he and the girl had been talking online for a few months through Facebook, Skype and Meow Chat.

Detectives say Rodriguez admitted telling the girl that he was a 17-year old. He also said the girl told him she was 19.

During interrogation, Rodriguez told police that the girl said she was "in a bad situation" with her parents that involved abuse.

According to the arrest report, Rodriguez admitted driving up to Michigan last Saturday to pick-up the girl but also kept saying he had no idea she was only 15.

When deputies spoke to the teen, she admitted she was a runaway from Michigan due to issues and possible abuse from her mother.

Authorities in Michigan told Catoosa County deputies the girl needed to be detained so she was taken to Dalton Regional youth Detention Center.

During their investigation, Catoosa County detectives took Rodriguez’s cell phone as evidence for further analysis.