A 22-year-old man from Strasburg has been arrested on two counts of online solicitation of minors following an undercover operation conducted by the Criminal Investigation Division of the Warren County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO).
According to authorities, an investigator working undercover as a minor contacted the suspect, Sean Ballowe, online. The investigation revealed that Ballowe repeatedly attempted to arrange meetings with what he believed was a juvenile under the age of 15 for sexual purposes. Through digital communications, Ballowe expressed his intentions and solicited illegal activity.
The Warren County Sheriff’s Office identified Ballowe as the individual responsible and made the arrest on Thursday. He was charged with two counts of use of communication systems to facilitate offenses involving children and was taken into custody at Rappahannock Shenandoah Warren Regional Jail. Ballowe was later presented before a magistrate and held on a secured bond of $5,000.
Law enforcement praised the collaborative efforts between the Rappahannock County Sheriff’s Office, Shenandoah County Sheriff’s Office, Strasburg Police Department, and others, which led to the successful apprehension of Ballowe. The investigation highlights the ongoing challenge of preventing online predators and protecting minors from exploitation.
Ballowe is scheduled to appear in Warren County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court on January 30 at 9 a.m. Law enforcement urges parents to remain vigilant about their children’s online activities and to report any suspicious behavior.
