Man accused of inappropriate messages

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) - A Newport News man is accused of using a computer to inappropriately chat with who he believed to be a 14-year-old girl.

According to police, Timothy James Maness, 27, of the first block of Randolph Road, was arrested Feb. 9 at his home without incident.

The Newport News Police Department's Cyber Crimes Unit and the Newport News Commonwealth's Attorney's Office began their investigation on Nov. 1, 2011.

A complaint was received from Louisiana concerning a man chatting inappropriately and sending inappropriate photographs to who he believed to be a 14-year-old girl. The investigation then identified a Newport News resident as the suspect.

Maness was arrested and charged with 13 counts of attempted indecent liberties with a child and six counts of using a communications system to facilitate certain crimes against a child.

Maness is being held in the Newport News City Jail.

Police said this continues to be an ongoing investigation and there is a possibility there may be more victims.

Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.