Sex chat charge dismissed against EKU student

Local News

February 6, 2010

By Brian Smith The Richmond Register Sat Feb 06, 2010, 10:44 PM EST

A grand jury dismissed charges against an Eastern Kentucky University student accused of having a sexually inappropriate computer chat with a minor.

Andrew Willis Webber, 22, of Paducah, was charged with the unlawful use of electronic means to induce a minor to engage in sexual activity in connection with an Oct. 28 incident, but will not face prosecution.

The charge stemmed from an alleged online conversation between Webber, a music education student at EKU, and a female juvenile.

Webber was accused of asking the juvenile to perform sex acts during the conversation, and told the girl he was pleasuring himself, according to a copy of the arrest citation filed by Richmond police.

The case was waived to a grand jury at a January preliminary hearing in Madison District Court. Webber did not appear at that hearing, and was free on a $5,000 cash bond after his November arrest.

According to a copy of the grand jury minutes that were included with the indictment, the grand jury dismissed the charge “with regret.”

Under “Grand jury notes/amendments,” a handwritten note reads “this should be a crime.”

The dismissal order, which dismissed the charge without prejudice, was signed Wednesday. Webber’s bond was released by the order.

Forged check

Donald Anthony Fitzpatrick, 37, no address listed, was indicted on one count of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument and a first-degree persistent felony offender charge.

Fitzpatrick is accused of cashing a forged check for $185 on Aug. 19 at the Shell gas station on Northgate Drive.

If convicted, Fitzpatrick could receive an escalated sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison because of the persistent offender charge.

An indictment is a formal statement of charges and does not imply guilt.

Brian Smith may be reached at bsmith@richmondregister.com or at 624-6694. For breaking news, follow Brian at www.twitter.com/RR_BSmith.

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