College Park Freshman Previously Charged For Child Porn Arrested Again
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (WJZ)—A University of Maryland student has been charged with trying to solicit sex from a 12-year-old girl. And prosecutors say he was already facing serious charges in another sex-related case.
Gigi Barnett reports the student was attending classes until this week.
Undercover detectives say they had numerous online chats with University of Maryland College Park freshman Akshay Rajshekar.
According to charging documents, in most instances the 18-year-old was trying to set up meetings to pay for sex with a 12-year-old girl.
Officers arrested Rajshekar shortly after he finished his classes.
Fellow students are reacting.
"That's really disturbing," said Kamini Anvil, Maryland student.
"It's shocking, but there will be those people in society," said Steven Brackett, Maryland student.
Detectives say their online conversations began earlier this month when Rajshekar allegedly answered a bogus underage sex ad on Craigslist.
Over the course of days, the Maryland student allegedly traded child pornography with the detective and asked to have sex with the fictitious 12-year-old.
Then on the Monday after spring break, charging documents say Rajshekar agreed to meet the bogus 12-year-old's father, who would take him to the girl.
Instead, he was met by police.
The university says it doesn't know why Rajshekar was still attending classes after a recent child pornography charge.
"It's definitely hard sometimes to be able to try to figure out everyone's personal life, but I definitely would say to have a little more security and background on some students," said Brooke Dignan, Maryland student.
According to charging documents, police were able to link Rajshekar to the crimes by using his email accounts and cell phone numbers. Undercover detectives say he readily provided that information when he thought he would have access to a 12-year-old girl.
Police say when they arrested Rajshekar he had his laptop and a box of condoms--the items the undercover detective told him to bring.
The Salisbury native was already facing charges of possession and distribution of child pornography following an investigation on the Eastern Shore.
Rajshekar remains in custody without bail.
