Joseph Meili, now 22, and the schoolgirl met on an online dating website in which the girl claimed she was 18. The Springfield New-Leader reports he admitted to a sex crime with the youngster and pleaded guilty to third-degree child molestation. His attorney Scott Pierson said the girl told Meili she was 18 and he felt "horrible" when he found out her real age. Pierson convinced the court that Meili was "essentially catfished" or lured into believing the girl was 18. Meili will be required to register as a sex offender as part of his plea.

Source: Daily Mirror June 18, 2019 17:29 UTC