ROCHESTER — A criminal investigation by members of the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department has resulted in the arrest of a Miami County Resident.

In July 2016, the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department was informed by a parent of a juvenile that an adult male was having inappropriate conversations with their juvenile daughter. The male identified himself as Duane Wegner, 29, of Peru.

It was stated that even after the male was advised of juvenile’s age, Wegner continued communication, much of which was extremely sexual in nature.

A criminal investigation was initiated by investigators with the sheriff’s department. A detective with the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department continued an online dialogue with Wegner on a social media site, impersonating the 13-year-old juvenile he had contact with previously.

On July 22, Wegner agreed to drive to Rochester and meet the minor in a Rochester area hotel for sex. Wegner was taken into custody in the Rochester Wal-Mart parking lot by members of the Rochester Police Department and Fulton County’s Sheriff’s Department without incident.

Wegner was booked into the Fulton County Jail on charges of level 1 felony attempted child molesting; level 4 felony child solicitation and level 5 felony dissemination of material harmful to a child. Wegner’s bail is set at $75,000.

Sheriff Christopher Sailors would like to remind parents that the internet is a place parents need to monitor their child’s activities. “I commend this parent for recognizing the dangers of online messaging and social media and contacting our department when a problem was identified,” said Sailors.

Assisting the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department in the investigation were the Rochester Police Department and the Fulton County prosecutor’s office.