A person works on a laptop in North Andover, Mass., June 19, 2017 file photo. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Elise Amendola)
An American man who travelled to Winnipeg to allegedly sexually assault a minor he met online has been charged south of the border.
Police say they began investigating in June when the mother of the victim reported to local police that her 13-year-old daughter had been communicating with a man from the U.S. since January of this year.
Police say the suspect was grooming the victim and subtly intimidating her online. In late April, he flew to Winnipeg from Rhode Island and allegedly sexually assaulted her numerous times over a four-day period.
He then returned to the U.S., but continued to try and talk with the teen.
Winnipeg police contacted American authorities, who then involved the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Herbert J. Rodas, 22, was arrested on July 11 and charged with transferring obscene material to a minor, enticement of a minor to engage in illicit sexual activity, and travelling in interstate or foreign commerce with intent to engage in illicit sexual activity.
