ROCKLAND — A New York man was arrested for allegedly soliciting sex online from a 13-year-old Rockland female after he was identified during an investigation lead by the Rockland Police Department.

Kenneth Schulz, 26, of Holbrook, N.Y., was transported to the Knox County Jail from New York after he was arrested March 23 on a warrant obtained by Rockland Police.   

Schulz was charged with the sexual exploitation of a minor, visual sexual aggression of a child, and solicitation of a child to commit a prohibited act.

He made his initial appearance in Knox County Court Friday afternoon, March 24, where his bail was set at $50,000 cash. If Schulz posts bail, he will be on supervised release with the conditions that he is prohibited from using any device that connects to the internet and having any contact with the victim, her family and any children under 18 years of age.

The investigation began Feb. 3 when the Knox County District Attorney’s Office was contacted by a school principal who reported that a student was communicating with a man online who was attempting to solicit sex from the minor, according to the affidavit filed in court by Rockland Police.

The suspect also allegedly contacted another young student at the school.

During the investigation, Rockland Police Detective Anne Griffith found a Facebook profile believed to be Schulz. The officer noted that the profile picture associated with his Facebook profile matched the profile picture associated with his MyLOL account, a social and dating website aimed at teenagers.

Griffith called Schulz using the phone number that he provided on MyLOL. She posed as a friend of the young female he had been soliciting and using a “young sounding voice” began having conversations with him. Schulz called the officer again multiple times, attempting to have further conversations, according to the court document. 

Police said the investigation included obtaining multiple phone and online records that included the use of graphic sexual language, the exchange of nude photos, and requests by the suspect to meet and have sex.

Schulz was arrested March 23 in N.Y. after a warrant was obtained by Rockland Police on March 3.

Rockland Police thanked the agents/officers and detectives from Homeland Security, U.S. Marshals Violent Offender Task Force, Suffolk County (N.Y.) Police Digital Forensics Unit, Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit, Knox County District Attorney’s Office, and Knox County Sheriff's Department Transport Unit who assisted in the investigation and apprehension of Schulz.

Reach Sarah Shepherd at news@penbaypilot.com