Columbia man arrested after allegedly attempting to pay minor for sex

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 30-year-old Columbia man was arrested on Monday and charged on Tuesday after he allegedly attempted to pay a minor for sex.

Rifat Apurba was charged in Boone County with child enticement. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. A hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday.

The probable cause statement says a Boone County deputy posed as a 16-year-old girl on a website that is used to set up meetings for paid sex. The probable cause statement says “individuals commonly visit this online platform sometimes seeking out minors for sex acts.”

Apurba allegedly messaged the account and set up a time to meet the “decoy” who identified herself as a 16-year-old and sent Apurba a photograph, the statement says.

Apurba told the decoy they would pick them up at a Columbia business, the statement says. He arrived at 6:10 p.m. and was arrested. He allegedly admitted to using the website to meet a youth for “services” and had $200 on him when deputies made the arrest, the statement says.