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Net sting results in an arrest; Egyptian student tells authorities his computer hacked  

Benton Courier 

Saline County Sheriff's Department authorities have made another arrest in the department's continuing Internet sting operation. 

 

 

 

Mohamed Fahmi Helmi, 29, a student from Egypt, was arrested Thursday on two Class C felony counts of Internet stalking of a minor.  

Helmi, of Jacksonville, was arrested after Deputy Charles Barker posted a profile of a 14-year-old girl on the Internet and Helmi requested a meeting with the girl for the purpose of having sex, authorities said. 

Helmi told authorities that he is a licensed Egyptian attorney who is in America to study English and law. He has a student visa but he is not yet enrolled in college, Capt. Jason Massey said. 

Authorities said Helmi, through the teenager's profile, first sent Internet messages in August 2006. Helmi resumed sending messages on Thursday, stating his intentions to have sexual intercourse with the 14-year-old girl at her residence, Massey said. Barker gave Helmi the address of a house in Haskell and Helmi went to the residence, Massey said.

The suspect drove by the residence three times and then pulled into the driveway, where he was arrested by Detective Gary Robertson. 

“Helmi claims he was lost and that he picked this residence to park his car and walk in the neighborhood,” Massey said. “He also claims that hackers hacked into his computer and that they must have used the computer to chat with the 14- year-old. He says it was coincidental that he was at the same house.” 

Taylor was taken to the Saline County Detention Center. He was scheduled to appear today at a bond hearing. A class C felony is punishable by three to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.