Man accused of luring Newcastle girl for sex

NEWCASTLE -- Charges have been laid against a Kitchener-area man accused of luring a Newcastle girl he met on the Internet for a sexual encounter.

The girl was 15 when she met the New Hamburg man in an online chatroom in May 2008, Durham police said. Over time their discussions became sexual in nature and eventually the girl agreed to meet the man for an encounter, police allege.

The man met the girl in Newcastle Jan. 3 and drove her to his home for the weekend, police said. The girl, 16 at the time of the encounter, was returned home the next day.

Police were contacted and executed a search warrant at the man's home Thursday. Robert Mullis, 31, of Forest Avenue in New Hamburg, is charged with luring, invitation to sexual touching and breach of a conditional sentence.

Police continue to investigate the suspect's activities and would like to hear from anyone who has encountered him online. He uses chatroom and e-mail identities including "rob" and "f.atman".

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 905-579-1520, extension 5363 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.