A West Palm Beach man faces multiple felony charges after allegedly traveling to Polk County to meet and engage in sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl he groomed online. FOX 13 News reports that Emerick Priddy, 22, met the victim via Snapchat, then drove to her residence where she exited her home through a bedroom window to join him in his car.
According to ABC Action News, Priddy and the teenager were found by deputies in various stages of undress in the backseat of Priddy's Honda Civic in a parking lot before 3 a.m. last Saturday; this discovery leading to his arrest, Sheriff Grady Judd remarked on the case stating, "Emerick Priddy picked the wrong county to come to and sexually batter a child."
The suspect had initially lied about his age to the victim, telling her that he was 17, but an investigation revealed his actual age to be 22, per mySuncoast.com. Priddy's alleged communication with the minor included dismissive remarks about the age difference and potential consequences as he said to her, "its prolly a one time thing" and "I aint worried."
Priddy has since been booked into the Polk County Jail, facing charges including traveling to meet a minor for sex, lewd battery, transmission of material harmful to a minor, interference with child custody, and use of a two-way communication device in a felony Judd emphasized the severity of the situation by stating on FOX 13 News, "He's now facing five felonies and hopefully will be registered as a sexual offender for the rest of his life," according to officials.
