County police said yesterday they have arrested a registered sex offender on charges of soliciting a 14-year-old girl in Michigan, and they are seeking other minors he might have contacted.
James Michael Willnecker, 34, of the 900 block of Thompson Blvd. in Essex was arrested Friday and charged with solicitation of a minor for pornography and sexual solicitation of a minor, police said.
According to Baltimore County police, the mother of a girl in Ravenna, Mich., called them after she learned her daughter was calling someone in the Baltimore area during the early morning.
Police said Willnecker began communicating with the girl Dec. 25 in a chat room. Willnecker gave the girl his telephone numbers and address, and the two were making arrangements to meet to have sex, police said.
The phone numbers and address led police to Willnecker, said Cpl. Mike Hill, a county police spokesman. Hill said he did not know whether Willnecker misrepresented his age to the girl.
In 2000, Willnecker, who is registered as a child sex offender in Maryland, pleaded guilty to a third-degree sex offense and received a 10-year sentence, with all but three years suspended, according to court records. He had been on probation, according to police, and was being held at the Baltimore County Detention Center on $75,000 bond.
Police ask that anyone with information about the suspect call the department's Crimes Against Children Unit at 410-853-3650.
Astronaut to answer questions
Towson University will present former NASA astronaut Don Thomas in a Saturday Morning Science Series talk, "Ask An Astronaut: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Being in Space," at 10 a.m. and noon Saturday in Room 326 of Smith Hall.
Thomas, the university's founding director of the Hackerman Academy of Mathematics and Science, will discuss being in space and will answer questions.
He has been on four space shuttle missions, logging more than 1,000 hours in space, making 700 orbits of earth and traveling nearly 20 million miles.
Information: 410-704-3659.
Woodcarving
Senior show seeks entries
Entries are being accepted for the Baltimore Area Woodcarving Show, sponsored by the Baltimore County Department of Aging and Catonsville Senior Center Council.
Awards will be given in numerous categories. Artists can call for details.
Entry fee is $4 per item in advance, or $5 at the door. Entry forms are available at all county senior centers.
The show will be held March 29 and 30 at the Catonsville Senior Center, 501 N. Rolling Road. Admission is $3.
Information: 410-887-0900.
Volunteers
Social Services needs helpers
The county Department of Social Services' Volunteer Office is seeking to establish a group of volunteers to assist in delivering services to clients.
A variety of staffing and support positions for DSS programs are available. Volunteers are asked to commit to at least half a day a week on a consistent basis.
Volunteers are paid for travel expenses and lunch while performing their service.
Interested individuals can call 410-853-3079 or 410-853- 3021 for more information.
Events or news items for the Baltimore County Digest may be submitted to baltco.news@baltsun.com. Information should be sent at least 10 days in advance of the event.