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COLONIE – A 41-year-old man from Sharon Springs showed up at a Latham apartment complex on Thursday, June 14, thinking he was going to meet a 14-year-old girl for sex.
Instead, he was met by investigators with the Colonie Police Department’s Computer Crimes Unit and put in handcuffs.
During the course of a two-week investigation, Jonathan Mattice allegedly messaged undercover investigators, who were posing as a teen, and the contact involved conversations that were of a sexual nature and the attempt to meet for sex.
A meeting was scheduled for June 14, and he was arrested at 5:34 p.m. without incident.
Lt. Robert Winn said a search warrant was executed on his vehicle and a digital media device was seized for a forensic examination.
There are no known real victims, and there was never a teenage girl communicating with Mattice. Furthermore, the investigation did not reveal any known access to children, of a troubling nature, in his personal or work life. He is a mechanic at a Signal Hill Farm.
Due to the nature of the charges, though, anyone who believes that they may be a victim or has information is urged to contact the Colonie Police at 518-783-2744.
Mattice was sent to the Albany County jail pending arraignment on three felonies: attempted rape, attempted criminal sex act and attempted dissemination of indecent material to a minor.
Colonie police were assisted by the State Police Troop G Computer Crimes Unit and the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force.