Online Predator Caught in Warren County Sting Operation
Maryland man traveled to Virginia to meet 'teenage girl' for sex
FRONT ROYAL, Va. — A Maryland man was arrested after traveling to meet who he thought was a teenage girl.
On January 21, 2025, Warren County Sheriff's Office (WCSO) investigators launched a proactive undercover chat operation targeting the online solicitation of minors within the area.
During the operation, an adult male contacted one of the investigators, who was posing as a 15-year-old online.
The suspect proceeded to request sexually explicit photos and content, and also transmitted several sexually explicit photos of himself to the investigator.
An in-person meeting was arranged, and the suspect traveled to Warren County — allegedly to meet the teen for a sexual encounter. Instead, he was met by an adult investigator.
Chance J. Bowman of Sharpsburg, MD was arrested and transported to the Rappahannock Shenandoah Warren (RSW) Regional Jail. An investigation revealed that Bowman, 28, was previously convicted of a similar crime in Pennsylvania, and was already registered as a sex offender there.
Bowman appeared before a magistrate and was ordered to be held in custody without bond. His court date is set for February 20, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. in Warren County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.
Anyone with additional information regarding this case is urged to contact Criminal Investigator C.M. McDaniel at (540) 635-7100 or via email at cmcdaniel@warrencountysheriff.org. Anyone with information regarding the solicitation or exploitation of any minor is encouraged to contact the WCSO.
The WCSO is an active member of the Northern Virginia/DC Metro (NOVA/DC) Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, which is coordinated by the Virginia State Police.