Texas Man Traveled to Florida to Meet "13-Year-Old" Girl for Sex

BROOKSVILLE – A Texas man is behind bars this evening after he tried to meet with who he thought was a 13-year-old girl in Hernando County.

According to court documents, 42-year-old Joseph Monty Myers traveled from his hometown of Braunfels, Texas, located just outside of Austin, to meet a Hernando County Sheriff's Office detective who posed as the 13-year-old victim.

Officials say Myers sent images of his penis to the decoy and asked for her to send nude pictures of herself to him. He then traveled to Hernando County last week in an attempt to meet the decoy.

Detectives made contact with Myers on Tuesday and placed him into custody.

Myers is charged with Obscene Communication and Use of a Computer to Seduce, Solicit, and Lure a Child, Cruelty Towards a Child, and Using a 2-Way Communication Device to Facilitate a Felony.

During a First Appearance hearing on Tuesday, Myers asked Judge Barbara-Jo Bell if he could get a reduction in bond. Instead, Bell increased his total bond to $40,000 and will require him to wear a GPS monitoring device when released. Myers replied, "Why so much If I've never been in trouble before?" Bell responded, "Bond is to ensure appearance in court, and you don't really have any ties to our county or our state. I read the warrant and those bonds are appropriate based on these facts and circumstances."