VERO BEACH — A Vero Beach man has been arrested after an investigation found he allegedly had sex with two underage girls, according to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office.
Jay Fredrick Nagel, 25, of Vero Beach, was arrested Aug. 21 and faces three counts of lewd and lascivious battery on two teenage girls, according to the press release.
Earlier this month, a 14-year-old female was questioned by her youth group advisor after the advisor heard other girls in the group talking about the victim conversing and meeting with an adult male she met on Facebook, according to authorities. The youth group leader contacted the Sheriff’s Office and an investigation was launched.
Det. Jeremy Shepherd determined Nagel was using a Facebook persona in the name of “Jonathan Langley” and many of the friends listed on the account appeared to be high school or middle school aged girls, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The investigation revealed Nagel engaged in sexual activity with the victim at least twice when she was 13 and at least once after she turned 14.
A search warrant was obtained for Nagel’s cell phone and another victim, a 15-year-old female, was identified after sexually explicit messages between the two were found, according to the realease. An interview with this victim revealed Nagel had committed lewd and lascivious battery on her in July of this year. This relationship is believed to have started on Facebook as well.
Nagel was arrested and charged with three counts each of lewd and lascivious battery, according to authorities. Each count is a second degree felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison for each charge. He is being held in the Indian River County Jail on $150,000 bond.
Anyone with information about other potential victims is asked to contact Det. Jeremy Shepherd at (772)978-6120. Those wishing to remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward up to $1,000, can provide information through Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at 1-800-273-8477 or www.tcwatch.org – http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tcwatch.org&h=VAQHW7z3M&s=1
Please refer to Indian River County Sheriff’s Office case number 2014-125168.
