Caddo Sheriff’s detectives arrested a 46-year-old man today who posed as a 15-year-old boy on-line to meet juvenile girls for sex, said Caddo Sheriff Steve Prator.

Dennis Lee Meshell, of 2433 Devaughn Street in Shreveport, is a convicted sex offender who also went  by the name of “Steven Dennis Jones” when texting young girls by phone and chatting with them on Facebook.

Caddo Sheriff’s Detective Jared Marshall was contacted in October when the parents of one of those girls reported that their 13-year-old daughter had an illegal and inappropriate relationship with someone she met on Facebook. That person originally told the girl he was 15, but later said he was 19. The two began a relationship and met in person on two occasions at an abandoned house.  He also gave her gifts of stuffed animals and jewelry, and drove a white vehicle, according to the girl.  

 An investigation into the victim and suspect’s phone records identified Dennis Lee Meshell as the suspect – a middle-aged sex offender who owns a white Dodge Durango. The investigation also identified a second victim, also 13, who said she had been receiving messages of a sexual nature from Steven Dennis Jones.   

During the investigation, Marshall assumed the on-line identity of the second victim and engaged in conversations with Meshell.

Further investigation led Marshall to Meshell’s Devaughn Street address near the Morningside neighborhood. A warrant for his arrest was obtained on November 18, and he was taken into custody today following a traffic stop on I-20. Meshell was booked into the Caddo Correctional Center for two counts of indecent behavior with juveniles, felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile, contributing to the delinquency of juveniles, computer-aided solicitation of a minor, unlawful use of a social networking website, and failure to register as a sex offender.

Meshell was convicted in 2004 of indecent behavior with a juvenile and carnal knowledge of a juvenile.

After reviewing text messages associated with this case, the Caddo Sheriff’s Office believes there may be multiple other  juvenile victims who believed they were talking with ‘Steven Dennis Jones.’  Detectives are asking parents to check with their  children to see if they have been contacted. If you believe your child may have been speaking with a ‘Steven Dennis Jones’ please contact Det. Marshall with the Caddo Parish Youth Services Division at 681-0700.