Warrant: Connecticut state police dispatcher enticed teen via Facebook to engage in sex

Jeffrey Paul Norton Jeffrey Paul Norton Photo: Courtesy Middletown Police Photo: Courtesy Middletown Police Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Warrant: Connecticut state police dispatcher enticed teen via Facebook to engage in sex 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

MIDDLETOWN >> The arrest warrant for a state police dispatcher who allegedly usedaccused of using a computer to encourage a teen to engage in sexual activity details a series of graphic social media messages they allegedly exchanged over the course of six months.

Jeffrey Paul Norton, 48, of Bishop Street, Waterbury, was charged Wednesday with two felonies after police say he and the victim messaged each other for six months through Facebook. The warrant says Norton tried to coerce the teen’s initiation into sexual activity.

On Jan. 16, Middletown special investigations detectives met with the parents of a 15-year-old, who showed evidence the teen had chatted on Facebook with Norton, a dispatcher for state police Troop I in Bethany, according to the warrant.

The parents, who have their children’s social media logins and passwords, did a routine check of the boy’s account and found the victim had engaged in a series of explicitly sexual messages with the accused, police said.

Authorities reviewed more than 350 screenshots of the conversations, which took place from July 2015 through January 2016, during which Norton offered to hire a prostitute for the boy, according to the warrant.

Details of the affidavit allege Norton, who has worked for state police since 2004, suggested the teen “sneak away” from the home to arrange for the encounter, and discussed “sexual topics with the victim that are inappropriate given the victim’s age.”

Authorities say Norton sent the teen two explicit videos as a way to persuade the youth to engage in sexual activity with the prostitute and explained what the teen should do in detail.

On Jan. 27, police interviewed Norton, who said he was Facebook friends with the victim and that the teen had asked him for “relationship and sexual advice,” authorities say.

Norton allegedly turned over a printed screenshot showing he had blocked the victim’s Facebook page after police had contacted him, adding he had made a mistake.

Norton, who is on administrative leave, according to state police, was charged with risk of injury to a minor and enticing a minor. He was released on a $1,500 non-surety bond and given a March 16 court date.