Ezra Robert Gramm, 36, of Springfield was arrested on February 5, 2010 by Springfield Police at a park in north Springfield for Enticement of a Child. Gramm was taken into custody after he sent sexually explicit text messages by cell phone to a 14-year old female. The 14-year old girl Gramm thought he was communicating with was actually a Springfield Police detective.

The Police became involved after a mother of a 13-year old girl discovered alarming text messages from Gramm to her daughter. During the course of the investigation it was found that Gramm had met the 13-year old through an internet chat room.

The child’s mother provided investigators with her cell phone that was used to make contact with Gramm. Over a twenty-four hour period the detective, posing as a 14-year old, had several sexually explicit conversations with Gramm. During the course of one conversation Gramm agreed to meet at the park where he was arrested by officers and taken to the Greene County Jail.

Gramm is being held on a $75,000 bond.

Police remind parents to monitor their children’s internet and cell phone usage. In this case the mother’s diligent efforts to monitor her daughter’s activity probably averted a serious assault.