Police: Man who attempted to meet 14-year-old for sex arrested in undercover sting

Neil Romano

A 52-year-old West Virginia man was arrested after attempting to meet a 14-year-old girl he had chatted with online for sex. What Neil Romano, of 152 Tioga Fork Road in Craigsville, didn’t know was that he had been chatting with an undercover officer.

Sheriff’s Office spokesman Sgt. Dwayne LaGrange said that Romano has been in the greater New Orleans area working as a contractor. It was while in the area that he struck up an online conversation with the alleged 14-year-old girl. Romano eventually set up a time and place to meet the girl, and when he arrived he was arrested by officers.

LaGrange said that the Sheriff’s Office would not release how often or for how long Romano chatted with the undercover officer because it would jeopardize ongoing and future investigations.

“We want to do everything we can to get these people off the streets,” he said.

Romano, who was apprehended on Ormond Boulevard, was charged with attempted carnal knowledge of a juvenile.