Ft. White man charged with soliciting a minor

Staff report

Updated on October 6 with pre-trial detention information.

WARNING: Some of the content below is sexually suggestive.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – James Martin Alden, 66, has been charged with soliciting a minor and sending obscene material to a minor after allegedly chatting about having sex with an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy who was posing as a 14-year-old girl and sending pictures of partially clothed women to the undercover deputy’s account.

On August 22, Alden allegedly sent a direct message to the undercover deputy’s account on Kik, and the deputy responded from the undercover account on August 25; the deputy reportedly said “she” went to GHS and was 14 years old. Alden reportedly said his name was “Bo,” derived from a childhood nickname of “Jim Bo.”

Alden reportedly provided his phone number, and he and the deputy began texting; the deputy reported that the phone number was associated with Alden in a law enforcement database, and a 2009 booking photo appeared to be the person who sent a selfie image to the deputy in the Kik application. The deputy also noted that the law enforcement database provided a nickname of “Jimbo” for Alden.

The conversation between Alden and the “girl” moved toward the possibility of meeting, with Alden reportedly texting, “I would so like to meet you but would go to jail if that happened.” In response to a question about whether he wanted to meet in person, Alden reportedly texted, “I do but im freaked out… Lets meet.”

However, Alden reportedly became suspicious that the deputy was a “cop” and then said he was “scared” and continued, “Love to hook up but.”

On August 26, Alden allegedly sent a picture of a woman in a “provocative pose,” with a low-cut blouse, to the deputy. He also allegedly sent a screenshot of an adult woman exposing her genitals and an image of a partially clothed adult female.

Alden allegedly said he would like to pick up the 14-year-old girl from school and engage in “petting kissing touching feeling fingering licking.” He then allegedly sent a picture of a partially clothed adult female, with her genitals exposed.

Alden allegedly asked the “14-year-old girl” about her sexual history and sent her a picture of his groin area while wearing boxers. After Alden reportedly asked the deputy to “prove” “she” was not a law enforcement officer and the deputy did not call him, the conversation became “sparse.”

A subpoena for the contents of Alden’s Kik account reportedly produced a conversation in which he provided his address to someone who appeared to be a prostitute; the address in Ft. White was Alden’s driver’s license address, further confirming his identity as the person who had communicated with the “14-year-old girl.”

Alden has been charged with using a computer to solicit a minor, two counts of transmitting obscene material to a minor, and unlawful use of a two-way communications device. His full criminal history is unavailable, but he is on pre-trial release in Columbia County following an August 31 arrest for possession of child pornography, unlawful use of a two-way communications device, resisting an officer without violence, and four counts of possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.

Judge Adam Lee ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s Office to hold him without bail until trial. On October 6, Judge James Colaw granted the motion and ordered him held without bail until trial.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.