Naval officer charged with statutory rape

By George Brown

A naval officer was arrested for the statutory rape of a 17-year old girl. Police say the relationship between the two began online. Police arrested the Lieutenant for having sex with the teen girl he met over the Internet.

Police say the Lieutenant confessed he met the girl on the Internet, knew she was underage and had sex with her. The warrant says Lt. Michael Anthony Brady met a 17-year-old girl through a Yahoo chat room called "Teen City Chat". The two chatted twice, then met in Atoka where the girl lives.

Chief Jessie Poole, Atoka Police Dept. said, "They had a meeting and that went into sexual activities that occurred." In his confession to police, Lt. Brady said the two met 3 or 4 times before the girl's parents found out. "They had told us what had occurred with their daughter. Their daughter had come to them, therefore the investigation was launched."

The police warrant says Lt. Brady knew the girl was under age quote, "During one of their earlier conversations on the Internet, Mr. Brady acknowledges her age and warns her that they will have to be careful until her 18th Birthday." Brady is charged with Statutory Rape and Solicitation of a Minor.

In Tennessee, You can consent to sex if you're between the ages of 14 and 17 if the other person is within four years of your age. Lt. Brady is 16 years older than the girl. The Chief in Atoka says this is a good reminder to parents to monitor their children when they're on the Internet.