CHATTANOOGA, TN (WRCB) -- The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Athens Police Department arrested an Athens, Tenn. man overnight on multiple counts of child exploitation after he was caught soliciting an underage girl for sex.
Joseph Michalowski, 53, of Knight Road in Athens, Tenn. was arrested and charged with 28 counts of especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, one count of exploitation of a minor by electronic means and one count of solicitation to commit statutory rape.
He was arrested without incident near the corner of East Side Plaza in Athens after an undercover TBI agent, posing as the victim, arranged to meet him.
In June, Michalowski started communicating with a 13-year-old female and began conversing with her about sex and exchanging explicit photos. The victim's parents discovered the inappropriate conversation and alerted authorities which resulted in an Athens Police Department and TBI investigation.
Michalowski admitted to law enforcement that he asked the victim to meet him and engage in sex.
Michalowski was booked into the McMinn County Jail. His bond has not been set.
