Tenn. man arrested for sex crimes with a juvenile

Tennessee man arrested for sex crimes involving 15-year-old girl he met on Internet and drove to St. Bernard Parish to meet

A Tennessee man has been arrested in St. Bernard Parish for sex crimes involving a 15-year-old girl he met on the Internet, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

John Lynch, 53, of the Chattanooga area, has been booked with two counts of carnal knowledge of the girl for allegedly having sex with her, as well as two counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

The female is from New Orleans but was visiting relatives in St. Bernard Parish, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Lynch was stopped on traffic charges in Chalmette on Wednesday night, June 24, and a sheriff’s deputy investigated further after learning a girl in the vehicle with him was only 15, the sheriff said.

Lynch was booked that night with one count of indecent behavior with a juvenile.

Detectives with the Juvenile Division of the Sheriff’s Office began a follow-up investigation which resulted in Lynch being booked on the additional counts.

Detectives learned the adult and minor met several months ago on the Internet and made plans to meet when she visited relatives in St. Bernard Parish.

Lynch drove to Louisiana from Chattanooga to meet her.

Authorities in Tennessee and the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office are also investigating the man, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Lynch is being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of bond set at $750,000.