Man 53, charged with 28 counts of sexual abuse of minor

A 53-year-old man has been charged with 28 counts of sexual abuse of a minor, accused of soliciting an underage girl for sex, the TBI says.

Joseph Michalowski, of 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, according to a news release from TBI spokeswoman Kristin Helm.

Michalowski began communicating in June with a 13-year-old female, talking to her about sex and exchanging explicit photos, Helm said. The victim's parents discovered the conversation and called authorities.

He was arrested in Athens after an undercover TBI agent posed as the victim and agreed to meet him, Helm said.

Michalowski was booked into the McMinn County Jail and his bond has not been set, she said.

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