A 20-year-old Charlottesville man has pleaded guilty to using a computer to solicit a minor for a sexual offense, the latest resolution to emerge from a three-day online operation that Albemarle County police ran back in May. Amanullah Ahmedzay entered his plea to one Albemarle County charge tied to that operation, while his co-defendant in the case, 32-year-old Crozet resident Daniel William Baer, has reached a deferred disposition deal.
Ahmedzay and Baer were both arrested in May as part of an operation involving officers from multiple agencies, according to CBS19 News. The online operation ran for three days and involved detectives engaging with 30 people across multiple digital communication platforms before arrests were made, according to Albemarle County. The Albemarle County Police Department made arrests as part of the operation.
Both men were remanded without bail to the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail following their arrests, per the same CBS19 report. At the time of his arrest, Baer faced two felonies: one count of indecent liberties with a child under age 15 and one count of computer solicitation of a minor, according to Cville Right Now.
Two Co-Defendants, Two Different Legal Paths
Ahmedzay's guilty plea covers using a computer for a sexual offense with a minor, and he is scheduled for another court appearance in February. Virginia Code § 18.2-374.3 classifies this type of computer solicitation offense as a Class 5 or Class 6 felony, carrying up to 10 years or more in prison depending on the victim's age and the defendant's intent, according to Virginia law.
Baer's case has taken a markedly different turn. He reached a deal with the county for a deferred disposition and is scheduled to return to court in September 2027. Under Virginia Code § 19.2-298.02, a deferred disposition requires mutual consent between the defendant and prosecutors.
Part of a Wider Regional Crackdown
The Albemarle County Police Department carries out these kinds of investigations as a member agency of the Southern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, known as SOVA-ICAC. In March 2026, an Albemarle County elementary school teacher was arrested on felony child pornography charges.
