Putnam man accused of soliciting a minor, traveling to meet up

HURRICANE, W.Va. (WCHS) — A Putnam County man accused of soliciting a minor on the internet and then traveling to meet her was taken into custody Monday, U.S. marshals said.

Elliot Simmons, 50, of Hurricane is charged with soliciting a minor and traveling to engage the minor in sexual activity, according to a news release from the U.S. Marshals Service.

Simmons is accused of soliciting a 13-year-old girl online in April 2024 where he had “several sexually explicit conversations” with the minor, the news release said.

Investigators said Simmons then traveled to meet the girl to allegedly engage in sexual activity.

Simmons was taken into custody about 11 a.m. Monday in Hurricane and is currently being held on a $50,000 bond.