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Florida sex sting snags local man

Originally published July 26, 2006

By Kate Leckie
News-Post Staff

FREDERICK -- A 33-year-old Frederick man caught in a Florida

Internet sex sting is in the Frederick County Adult Detention Center
awaiting extradition.

David Myer Dantzic II, a manager at the Comus Inn, was arrested
Monday afternoon during a search of his residence by the Frederick
Police Department, Lt. Tom Chase, commander of the agency's
criminal investigations division, said Tuesday.

Mr. Dantzic's arrest on a warrant charging him as a fugitive from

Florida stems from an online conversation soliciting lewd behavior
from a 14-year-old girl, Assistant State's Attorney Anthony M.
Cecala said during a bail hearing Tuesday in Frederick County
District Court.

But the girl was no girl; she turned out to be a detective in

southeastern Florida involved in an undercover operation to
apprehend Internet predators, Mr. Cecala said.

A phone call after the online communication confirmed the lewd

solicitation, he said.
Dantzic
Deputy State's Attorney Charlie Smith said Mr. Dantzic arranged to
mail the teenage girl a webcam to film herself performing sexual
acts.

Mr. Smith plans to file additional charges against Mr. Dantzic for
solicitation over the Internet for purposes of child pornography, a
felony punishable by as much as 10 years in prison and a $25,000
fine.

The apprehension of Mr. Dantzic resulted from an investigation

initiated by the St. Lucie County, Fla., Sheriff's Office.

After identifying Mr. Dantzic as a Frederick resident, authorities in

Florida last week contacted Frederick police about assisting with
the case.

Cpl. Mathew Burns, a member of Frederick County's Internet

Crimes Against Children Task Force, led the search of Mr. Dantzic's
house in the 600 block of Grant Place and arrested him on the
fugitive warrant, Lt. Chase said.

Lt. Chase said items were seized from Mr. Dantzic's house, but he
declined to say what was removed.

At Tuesday's bail hearing, Mr. Dantzic told Judge Janice Rodnick Ambrose he would not waive extradition to
Florida. Mr. Dantzic said he has hired defense attorney Christopher M. Rolle to represent him.

Mr. Cecala said that although Mr. Dantzic's criminal record is "relatively minor," a November 1994 conviction is
disturbing -- furnishing alcohol to a minor in Frederick.

Mr. Dantzic pleaded guilty and was fined $285, according to court records.

Judge Ambrose ordered Mr. Dantzic be held without bail until Florida authorities arrive to take him into custody.

Mark Weinberg, public information officer for St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office, said the next step is for the
attorney general's offices in Florida and Maryland to complete documents allowing Mr. Dantzic to be extradited.

"That usually takes a bit longer than a few days," Mr. Weinberg said. Citing the ongoing investigation, he
declined to release further details.

Mr. Smith said the allegations involved in this case are indicative of just what today's parents are up against in
trying to keep their children safe.

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The Frederick News-Post Online - Frederick County Mary... http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/storyTools/pr...

Predators aren't only individuals who seek to arrange sexual encounters with juveniles. Predators also include
those who try to draw youths into pornography over the Internet.

Sending a Webcam to a child to produce pornographic material is another method of victimization. "And the
predator doesn't even have to leave the state to do it," Mr. Smith said.

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