Internet sex chat sting leads to charges

Updated: February 9, 2008 - 12:02 AM

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A Rochester man who is alleged to have engaged minors in online sex chats is the latest suspect to be charged in an Internet sting operation begun last fall, authorities say.

Michael Chad Zarling, 31, was charged Friday in Ramsey County District Court with soliciting a child for sexual conduct, a felony.

On Nov. 3, the complaint said, Zarling, thinking he was chatting online with a 14-year-old girl, asked her to tell him about her sexual experience and about her vagina.

The 14-year-old girl turned out to be a male St. Paul police sergeant.

Authorities executed a search warrant at Zarling's Rochester residence Thursday, and arrested him, the complaint said. He admitted later to chatting about sex with people he believed to be minors, and that he had been aroused in the process, the complaint said.

The investigation -- conducted by the Minnesota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force -- has secured two guilty pleas thus far in Ramsey County District Court, Cmdr. Neil Nelson said Friday.

ANTHONY LONETREE