BENTONVILLE, Ark. — A Bentonville woman who was arrested in 2023 for planning to have sex with somebody she believed to be 14 years old has been taken back into custody, according to court documents.
Benton County Prosecutor Josh Robinson states that a no-contact order was issued between Erika Ponce, 40, and an unnamed person after Ponce was accused of trying to arrange a sexual meet-up with an undercover agent who was posing as a 14-year-old girl in March 2023.
Ponce was taken back into custody in 2024 after reportedly breaking that no-contact order, being found with drugs on her person, and using social media after a court order banned her from doing so.
Her previous bail was revoked before being reset to $100,000 at a pre-trial hearing on April 22, 2024, according to Robinson.
Ponce originally pleaded not guilty to internet stalking of a child and possession of child sexual abuse material in 2023.
According to a police report, an undercover agent posing as a 14-year-old girl was messaged by Ponce, who started talking about sexual things they could do together.
Although most of the messages are redacted in the report, police state that Ponce tried to plan an overnight meet-up with the person she thought was a 14-year-old. Ponce allegedly planned to take the teen to her apartment for the weekend for sex and suggested the 14-year-old could make money as a prostitute.
Upon arrival at the planned meeting location, Ponce was arrested by Siloam Springs police.
After her arrest, Ponce reportedly wrote two apology letters to the person she thought was a 14-year-old girl, and the girl's grandmother stating she was "sorry, lonely, and selfish."
Ponce has been charged with internet stalking of a child, sexual indecency with a child, and possession of child sexual abuse material.
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