A man facing a felony charge for attempting to solicit a child in January was charged again this week with sex-related texting crimes.
David Lee Hendershot, 45, of Wadena, was charged in Wadena County District Court with harassment/stalking with sexual intent and harassment/stalking of a victim under 18-both felonies.
According to a criminal complaint filed by the Wadena County Attorney's Office, Hendershot sent 51 text messages to a 17-year-old male Saturday night with sexually explicit content about the male's juvenile girlfriend. The messages included sexually explicit photos of Hendershot.
Hendershot was arrested by Pequot Lakes police on New Year's Eve 2015 outside SuperAmerica gas station after he allegedly planned to meet who he believed was a 13-year-old juvenile female for sex.
According to a criminal complaint filed by the Crow Wing County Attorney's Office, Hendershot initially sent text messages to a former neighbor in Jenkins, stating he wished to have sex with the adult woman and her 13-year-old daughter. Hendershot allegedly asked for the daughter's phone number to exchange messages with her as well. On Dec. 22, the woman reported Hendershot's statements to police, who asked the woman to provide him a false phone number he believed was her daughter's. The phone number instead connected Hendershot with an undercover officer.
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Between Dec. 22 and Thursday, Hendershot allegedly sent numerous sexually explicit messages and photos and requested photos of the girl. The undercover officer arranged to meet with Hendershot at the SuperAmerica on Thursday under the premise the girl would stay with him in Wadena for the weekend.
According to the complaint, Hendershot sent messages explaining his friend would drive him to Pequot Lakes to pick the girl up so the pair could have sex in the back of a van on the way back to Wadena.
When Hendershot arrived at the gas station, he was met by police instead and was arrested and booked in the Crow Wing County Jail. Hendershot later told police he believed the girl was 18 years old, the complaint stated.
The felony charge Hendershot faces in that incident carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison, a $5,000 fine or both. The new charges against him carry a combined maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and/or a $30,000 fine.
Hendershot remained in the Wadena County Jail Thursday night.
