A Conquest man has been charged with trying to contact children online for "sexually explicit" conversations and photographs.
The Cayuga County Sheriff鈥檚 Office said it was notified in May by the Marion County Sheriff鈥檚 Office in Florida that Kevin VanNorstrand, a registered sex offender residing in the town of Conquest, had been in communication with an undercover detective posing as a 14-year-old.
Kevin VanNorstrand
In a Monday news release, the sheriff's office said that through a joint investigation, it was determined that VanNorstrand had been engaging in inappropriate and sexually explicit conversations with an individual he believed to be a child. With the evidence provided by Marion County and further investigation by the sheriff鈥檚 office, detectives learned that VanNorstrand was also talking to another individual he believed to be 13 years old. It was also determined, the sheriff's office said, that VanNorstrand had communicated electronically with both individuals over a three-month period during which time he made sexual requests and requested nude photographs.
After the execution of multiple search warrants, VanNorstrand was arrested and charged on July 12 with two counts of first-degree attempted dissemination of indecent material to a minor, a Class E felony. He was arraigned and held with a return date in the Town of Conquest Court on Thursday, July 18.
The sheriff's office said the case remains an active investigation and anyone with information is encouraged to contact Detective Michael Baim at (315) 258-3868 or leave a tip at -Tip.
