HARTFORD, Conn. — When a cross-country truck driver allegedly attempted to meet a 15-year-old girl at Hartford service station on April 6, he encountered law enforcement instead, police said.
Russel Barney, 55, of Safford, Ariz. faces charges including criminal attempt/illegal sexual contact with a minor under 16, criminal attempt/sexual assault in the second degree, illegal possession of child pornography in the first degree, and promoting a minor for obscene performance.
In collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Hartford Police Special Investigations Division conducted an operation targeting child exploitation that ultimately resulted in Barney’s arrest.
“Undercover law enforcement personnel assumed the identity of a 15-year-old girl’s uncle on the internet and engaged in dialogue with the subject, Russel Barney,” police said. “Throughout the online discussions, Barney shared explicit pornographic images with the detective and consented to engage in sexual relations with a 15-year-old juvenile.”
Barney planned to meet the juvenile at the Pride Hartford Travel Station located at 10 Jennings Road, police said. When he arrived, and approached an undercover vehicle, Hartford police officers and federal agents immediately surrounded him.
The undercover operation was set up with the assistance of Major Crimes Division, Community Service Officers, and the FBI, police said, noting that Barney was transported to the Special Investigations Division.
During the investigation, police said it was revealed that Barney was in possession of child pornography. He was transported to the Detective Division for processing.
Court records indicate Barney is being held in lieu of $750,000 bail, and is due in court April 29th.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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