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Harnett County Man Charged With Soliciting Daughter For Sex Over Internet

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HARNETT COUNTY — Deputies in Harnett County say they caught someone lurking on the dark side of the Internet trying to sell his 7-year-old daughter for sex.

Detectives have arrested 33-year-old Larry Franklin Kelly and charged him with five counts of first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and one charge of third-degree exploitation of a minor.

They say he got Internet access at the Harnett County Public Library.

Kelly contacted prospective clients for his daughter throughYahoo'sfree e-mail service.

Detectives say while Kelly was a patient at a Raleigh mental clinic he asked his estranged wife, Deborah, to retrieve an e-mail for him. That is when she found the notes he sent out offering his daughter's services.

Kelly was arrested Tuesday at his girlfriend's house. He is currently being held at the Harnett County Jail under $300,000 bond.

Investigators say this all took place between June and October, and several people responded to Kelly's e-mail, wanting to take him up on his offer.

Kelly's attorney says his client has a history of mental illness. He also says Kelly and his wife have been separated for two years. From staff and wire reports

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