The Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office has concluded a month long investigation with the arrest of Robert Dunn, 42, of York Avenue in Monticello. Mr. Dunn, who is a level 2 sex offender was arrested Sunday (5/31/15) when he allegedly went to a home on Emily Street, in the Village of Monticello, for the purpose of having sex with a 15 year old boy. What Dunn did not know was that the 15 year old boy was actually an undercover deputy sheriff who he had solicited on Facebook.

The investigation began in April when Robert Dunn appeared at the Sheriff’s Office to register as a sex offender. He was required to do so as a result of a conviction for sexual misconduct for which he was sentenced to a year in the Sullivan County Jail. At the time of his registration Dunn reported that he had no social media accounts and did not own a cellphone.

During a routine check by deputies it was discovered that Robert Dunn did in fact have 2 Facebook accounts under different names and an I-Phone. Dunn also failed to declare his place of employment as required by law. Deputies noticed that many of Dunn’s friends on Facebook were very young. An undercover Facebook account was set up and it wasn’t long before Dunn asked to be friends with the fictitious 15 year old boy. During the course of the month long investigation it is alleged that Dunn sent a picture of his genitals to the undercover deputy and then asked to meet for the purpose of having sex.

In a scene right out of NBC Dateline, Dunn was given an address on Emily Street in Monticello where he was to meet the 15 year old boy. The property is actually unoccupied and slated for the County’s real estate auction in two weeks. Dunn arrived at the residence at about 3:30 PM and knocked on the door. When he was told to “come in”, he entered the house and was immediately greeted by Sheriff’s Sergeant Blake Starner. It is reported that Dunn almost fainted. Back up units from the Sheriff’s Office and Monticello Police swarmed the premises and Robert Dunn was taken into custody without incident. At the time of his arrest he had a bottle of lotion in his back pocket.

Robert Dunn was charged with 4 counts of Felony Failure to Report Changes to the Sex Offender Registry, 1 count of Felony Disseminating Indecent Material to Minors and Misdemeanor Conspiracy. He was arraigned before Village Justice Leo Glass and sent to the Sullivan County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bail. He is due back in court on Thursday June 4, 2015.

Sheriff Mike Schiff thanked Sergeant Starner and the staff that assisted for their hard work on the case. He also thanked the Monticello Police Dept. and County Treasurer Nancy Buck for her assistance.