By Kasey Joyce
Edwardsville, IL (KSDK) - Sex charges have been filed against a man for abusing a teen girl.
James LaBarr has been charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse, but police say this case could have been even worse.
Detectives believe LaBarr had plans to take the teen out of state with him, and think they caught him right before he left town.
Authorities say LaBarr first made contact with the girl on a popular social networking site. They quickly developed a friendship,p and within days he had come from Maine to Edwardsville to be with her.
Police say LaBarr found an abandoned trailer home in the 5100 hundred block of Kay in Edwardsville.
That's where he brought the girl. She was reportedly sexually assaulted.
After the girl's mom called 911 and reported her missing, detectives were somehow able to trace her to LaBarr and to the mobile home and bring her home. Detectives say internet cases like this one are very challenging.
KSDK