Posted Friday, February 3, 2012 --- 1:50 p.m.

Press Release from the Rock County Sheriff's Office:
Suspect Arrested for Using a Computer To Facilitate a Child Sex Crime

Charge:
Use of Computer to Facilitate a Child Sex Crime
Wis. Stat. 948.075(1r)

On January 27, 2012, the Beloit Township Police Department asked the Rock County Sheriff’s Office to assist in a case involving 32-year old Jonathan F. Lincoln for propositioning an 11-year old girl for sex via a computer.

On January 26, a 39-year old woman in Louisiana was on an internet dating website and observed a man messaging a girl that she thought was under 13. The 39-year old female created an account and posed as an 11-year old female. She engaged Lincoln in a conversation via the website. That soon changed to them using their cell phones and texting each other. The conversation also turned to a sexual nature. The female was able to determine that Lincoln was from the Beloit, Wisconsin area through information he had sent to her.

The female then contacted her local police. They advised her to contact the police in Wisconsin where the man lived.

She contacted the Town of Beloit Police Department and reported the incident. Beloit Township police confirmed that Lincoln lived in Beloit Township. They requested the assistance of the Rock County Sheriff’s Office. Rock County detectives started working the case on January 27. They contacted the Louisiana State Police and a detective from that agency was assigned the case. He contacted the female complainant in Louisiana and he began posing as the 11-year old female. Lincoln was led to believe the 11-year old female was from Wisconsin. Lincoln set up a meeting with the 11-year old at the Taco Bell Restaurant on Milwaukee Road in Beloit for February 2.

On February 2, 2012, the detective from Louisiana texted Lincoln, advising “she” was on the way to the Taco Bell. The detective was also in contact with Rock County detectives who, along with the Rock County Special Investigation Unit (SIU) and deputies, had positioned themselves in the area of the Taco Bell. At approximately 4:00PM the suspect was seen pulling in and parking in the Taco Bell parking lot. Deputies and detectives converged on his car and took him into custody without incident. He was transported to the Rock County Jail and held.

Detectives obtained a search warrant for his vehicle and residence in Beloit Township. Beloit Township officers assisted Rock County detectives and Special Investigations Unit with the service of the search warrant at the residence. Lincoln’s phone was seized during the search of his car and his computer and associated accessories were seized during the search of his house.

Lincoln will be going to court on February 3, 2012, at 4:00PM at jail court.

Pursuant to the directive of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as found in Supreme Court Rule 20:3.6, Trial Publicity, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.