Navy officer convicted of sexual coercion in minor case

A Navy psychologist was sentenced to 14 years in prison for attempted coercion and enticement of a minor late last month, according to the Justice Department.

Navy officer Michael Andrew Widroff, 34, was a psychologist in Norfolk, Virginia, when he was arrested on June 7, 2023, after traveling to meet what he believed to be a 14-year-old girl for have sex, according to a May report. 24 Statement from the Department of Justice announcing the conviction.

This girl was actually an undercover agent with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Widroff pleaded guilty in October.

He first came to the attention of authorities in May 2023, after posting on the social media platform Whisper a photo of a man dressed in Navy service fatigues, “accompanied by text stating that he wished to engage in fraternization or other violations of military rules.” law,” according to the federal government.

The NCIS agents then responded to the message posing as a 14-year-old girl.

Widroff quickly moved the conversation from Whisper to Snapchat, where he “escalated the communications from casual to sexual,” according to the Justice Department.

“Widroff described to the child, in graphic and detailed terms, numerous sexual acts in which he wanted them to engage,” according to the statement.

He requested “sexy” and nude photos, in addition to sexual recordings, according to the statement.

Widroff also repeatedly asked the 14-year-old to share the location of her home.

“Expressing anxiety about being seen, Widroff planned to enter her home through the back door,” the Justice Department said.

Widroff deleted Snapchat from his phone as cops arrested him in the neighborhood where he thought the girl lived on June 7, 2023.

An attorney for Widroff did not respond to a request for comment.