Johnson County man accused of trying to blackmail teenager to meet at hotel for sex
A Johnson County man spent seven months setting up various social media accounts in an effort to blackmail a 17-year-old girl into meeting him at a hotel for sex, according to charging documents.
Jeffrey Paschal, 26, of Overland Park, was charged in Johnson County District Court in February with blackmail and two counts of sexual exploitation of a child.
According to court records, Paschal contacted the teen online in May 2019 and offered her a $50 gift card if she flirted with him. Eventually he was offering $250 in exchange for nude photos. The teen said that she complied.
The next day, she told police, Paschal began threatening to release the photos if she didn’t continue to send them.
After Paschal demanded that the teen meet him at a Johnson County hotel, court records said, the teen contacted police.
The teen said she blocked Paschal on social media but he set up three new accounts on Snapchat so he could continue to threaten her, prosecutors allege.
He continued to try to contact her, court records said, until police served a search warrant at his home in December.
When he spoke with police, court records said, Paschal said he knew the teen was younger than 18 and said he had told her he would release the images.
He said he “never meant to hurt or threaten” the teen.
Paschal was arrested and released on $25,000 bond in February.
His defense attorney did not respond to The Star’s request for comment in time for publication.
He is scheduled to appear in court in June.
