Navy Analyst Arrested in JCC for Soliciting Child Over Internet

By Sam Thrift Saturday, December 17, 2011

James City County Police arrested a 31-year-old Navy analyst Friday night after he attempted to meet a 14-year-old girl he spoke with over the Internet. The teen was actually an undercover police officer.

Charles Frank Canale Jr, who lives on West Ocean View Avenue in Norfolk, was charged with six counts of use of communications systems to solicit a child less than 15 with lascivious intent and two counts of attempting to take indecent liberties with a child.

Investigation revealed that Canale, using the name “Chuck C,” exchanged messages with an officer who was pretending to be a young girl in a chat room from Nov. 30 to Dec. 15. During these chats, Canale made numerous propositions of sexual acts and sent a digital image of his penis to the officer.

Canale agreed to travel from Norfolk to James City County Friday night to meet the supposed minor he had been chatting with, but was instead met by the police, arrested and taken into custody when he arrived at the meet location.

Canale, who is a Cryptological Analyst for the US Navy stationed aboard the USS Elrod, is currently being held without bond at the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail.