CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Charleston police arrested a man Friday morning after they say he allegedly sent more than 100 explicit photos to a minor.
Tyler Holstein, 23, was charged with dozens of counts for soliciting a minor for sexual activity and obscene communication in Mason and Roane counties.
Police said Holstein was taken into custody at the Red Roof Inn in Kanawha City after he allegedly tried to lure a teenage girl to the hotel to have sex with him.
Holstein is accused of connecting with the girl on Facebook. Mason County sheriff’s deputies were originally working the case. Deputies received a complaint about the photos early Friday.
He also had warrants out for his arrest in Roane County for a similar crime. He could face new charges in Kanawha County.
“These kids, now a days with the technology, it’s hard to supervise what’s going on with their phones, but this guy with this many counts, there’s clearly a pretty big issue there with a juvenile,” said Lt. Steve Cooper, chief of detectives with the Charleston Police Department, on Friday’s “580” Live heard on MetroNews affiliate 580-WCHS in Charleston.
Cooper said Holstein was part of the homeless community in Charleston.
The FBI is now involved in the case.
“He’s also being interviewed by a federal agency here for some other suspicious activity online and I can’t get into the specifics of that, but I can say that the FBI has been with us this morning interviewing him about some other potentially dangerous activity,” Cooper said.
Holstein has a face tattoo of a skull. Cooper said Holstein goes by the nickname “Diablo.”
On his Facebook page, his name is Tyler Holstein (King Isis). He lists his occupation as “Leader at Terrorist” and “School Shooter at Isis Headquarters.” Several photos on his page show him holding guns, hand cuffs and wearing a mask.
Holstein was arraigned Friday in Kanawha County Magistrate Court on $100,000 bail.