WABASH — More information has been released on the arrest of a Wabash man who allegedly sent an inappropriate video of himself to a person he believed was underage.
Ethan D. Cornett, 24, 8310 S. 300W, Wabash, is charged with child solicitation, a level 5 felony; and inappropriate communication with a child, a class A misdemeanor.
On April 16, an Indiana State Police trooper was contacted by a Wabash County Sheriff’s Department detective. The Wabash detective said he received communication from a detective in Iowa about an undercover chat operation tracing back to an individual in Wabash County.
According to court documents, in February, the Forest City Police Department in Forest City, Iowa, started an undercover chatting operation in an attempt to be proactive in their online community. They created a social media account posing as an underage individual.
On April 5, Cornett contacted the individual via social media. During the conversation, the decoy said they were underage, and Cornett continued talking with them, asking for inappropriate content. Cornett also sent the decoy an inappropriate video of himself.
A search of Cornett’s social media showed he viewed the decoy’s online profile several times.
Law enforcement searched Cornett’s home on July 11.
In an interview with police, Cornett said he “messed up” and admitted to having “dirty talk” with the person posing as an underage individual. He also admitted to asking the decoy for inappropriate content and sending an inappropriate video of himself to the decoy.