A 37-year-old south Florida man was thrown in jail after meeting a 16-year-old girl in Venice whom he met while in an online teen dating chatroom. John Mattaliano was arrested Thursday after police found him near East Venice Avenue. He traveled to Venice to meet with the girl while she and family friends were on vacation. The victim received pictures of the man’s genitals sent through his phone, which also had a GPS device that tracked the girl’s movements. Mattaliano made contact with the victim Thursday and she told the caretakers she was with and deputies were called to the scene. Mattaliano is charged with using a computer to solicit a child, traveling to meet a minor after use of a computer to lure a child, and transmission of material Harmful to minors by electronic device. He remains in custody today on $59,000 bond.
