West Alabama Man Accused of Sexually Soliciting Minor in Tuscaloosa County

A Hamilton, Alabama, man has been jailed in Tuscaloosa County after he allegedly tried to sexually solicit a minor child on Facebook earlier this year.

According to court documents filed on Monday, 50-year-old Eric Prater sent a friend request to a minor living in Tuscaloosa County back in January, which was intercepted by the would-be victim's mother.

Within 24 hours, she gave control of the chat to law enforcement officers in Tuscaloosa County and Prater continued to communicate with investigators, believing they were the child he'd tried to befriend.

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Police say on three separate occasions from January through April, Prater reportedly gave explicit directions and instructions as he sexually solicited an undercover officer he thought was a minor.

A warrant was issued on May 1st, and Prater was arrested on Friday and charged with three counts of electronic solicitation of a minor.

He was placed in the Tuscaloosa County Jail, where his consolidated bond has been set at $50,000.

For more coverage of crime & court news in west Alabama, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.