EDWARDSVILLE – Charges against a Missouri man accused of soliciting who he believed was a 12-year-old girl were unsealed this week after his arrest following an Edwardsville Police social media sting operation.
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Brandon R. Nute, 23, of Wentzville, Mo., was charged with one count each of indecent solicitation of a child (a Class 1 felony), solicitation to meet a child (a Class 4 felony), and grooming (both Class 4 felonies).
From March 28 to April 21, 2026, Nute allegedly knowingly solicited an individual he believed to be a 12-year-old female child to perform a sexual act. He also reportedly arranged to meet with the child at the Watershed Nature Center in Edwardsville without the knowledge of her parent or guardian and to allegedly commit predatory criminal sexual assault of a child.
A petition to deny Nute’s pretrial release from custody was filed by the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office. According to the petition, an Edwardsville Police detective created a covert Facebook account posing as a 12-year-old girl before the account received a friend request from Nute on March 28, 2026.
Upon asking the “girl” about her age and learning she was 12 years old, the petition states Nute requested to engage in sexual acts with the child and requested to meet with her in person at the Watershed.
“Defendant instructed Ana to delete the messages so her mother would not find out,” the petition states. “At all times, there was no indication to believe that Defendant believed he was talking to anybody besides a 12-year-old Edwardsville girl.”
The Edwardsville Police Department presented the case against Nute, who currently remains in custody in the Madison County Jail. The charges against Nute had been sealed prior to his arrest to avoid the risk of his flight from prosecution; Madison County court records show he was booked into jail on May 5, 2026.
Nute’s case was filed on the same day as a separate but similar case of child solicitation and grooming via Facebook which resulted in felony charges against a Jerseyville man, with more details available in this story on Riverbender.com.
All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault or abuse, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673), text HOPE to 64673 or visit RAINN.org/hotline.
