RENSSELAER, NY — A 35-year-old man has been arrested after allegedly engaging in inappropriate conversations with a 13-year-old girl through social media.
The Rensselaer Police Department received a report on Nov. 5 from the father of a 13-year-old female residing in the city.
The father reported concern that his daughter had been engaged in inappropriate conversations with a 35-year-old male known to the family.
The conversations took place through multiple social media platforms.
Patrol officers documented the initial report and forwarded the information to the Detective Division for further investigation.
Detectives initiated an investigation that resulted in the arrest of William H. Branion, 35, of East Greenbush, New York.
Branion is charged with dissemination of indecent material to minors in the first degree, a class D felony, and endangering the welfare of a child, a class A misdemeanor.
Branion was processed at the Rensselaer Police Department and arraigned in Rensselaer City Court before Judge Johnson.
He was remanded to the Rensselaer County Jail on $50,000 cash or secured bond.
Branion has since posted bail and been released from the Rensselaer County Jail.
Police are asking anyone whose child has had contact with Branion to contact the Rensselaer Police Department at (518) 462-7451 and ask to speak with a detective.
