Man on trial for soliciting a teen

A Columbia man, whose trial began Tuesday, is facing up to 30 years in jail if convicted of charges related to an alleged attempt to solicit sex from a 14-year-old girl.

Benjamin Paul Green, 29, of Grey's Inn Road in Columbia, is facing charges of criminal solicitation of a minor and attempted criminal sexual conduct with a minor.

Green is alleged to have solicited a person he thought was an Aiken County teen for sex. However, when he showed up in Aiken for his date, he met the "girl" and two of her friends - three Aiken County Sheriff's Office investigators.

In the trial, the prosecution, headed by Suzanne Ringler of the Attorney General's Office, laid out its case against Green.

Investigator Tommy Platt was the main witness who testified Tuesday.

Platt conducted the online chat with Green. Testimony showed that a chatroom user named "Blackslider" approached "LittleMandy14SC" and began a very graphic conversation focused on "Mandy's" sexual experience.

"Blackslider" was Green, who continued the conversation after hearing the "girl" was only 14.

Platt testified that most users discontinue chats with undercover investigators once they learn a chatter is underage.

Unabated, Green sent three pictures. One of his face and two of his erect genitals.

The pair chatted and agreed to meet in Beech Island. Green picked up a bottle of liquor, condoms and a "supplement of a sexual nature."

When Green was confronted by officers, he admitted that he was there to meet a 14-year-old girl.

Green's defense attorney described the actions of the investigators as luring his client and questioned the fairness of the proactive investigation.

A proactive investigation is one where officers pose and wait to be approached by others, rather than a reactive investigation which starts after a crime is committed.

The defense attorney, Michael McMullen, also attacked perceived flaws in the prosecution's evidence. Archives of the chat between ACSO posing as Mandy and Green were missing the very first line of conversation.

And, the backup software which records the interactions was also out of order.

The trial is expected to conclude today with more members of law enforcement to testify.