Trial set for Quebec man arrested in Florida on sex-related charges

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FORT LAUDERALE, Fla. – A Quebec man accused of travelling to the U.S. to have sex with someone he thought was an underage boy is set to go on trial in Florida in January.

A two-week jury trial has been scheduled for Rene Roberge beginning on Jan. 12.

Roberge, 47, was arrested at the Fort Lauderdale airport earlier this month after a flight from Montreal.

He has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to coerce and entice a minor to engage in sexual activity, travelling to the U.S. with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and transporting material involving sexual exploitation of minors.

In an unproven criminal complaint filed in a U.S. court, however, an American agent has alleged Roberge confessed to flying to the U.S. to have sex with someone he believed was a 13-year-old boy.

According to the complaint filed by Vanessa Blanco, a special agent with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, American authorities began the sting a year ago on a social networking site.

Court documents have also alleged that Roberge told authorities he planned to travel to Texas after his time in Florida to engage in sexual activity with another underage boy who was not part of the undercover operation.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents also allegedly found child pornography on Roberge’s tablet computer.

Roberge was denied bail last week after a court found he was a “danger to the community” and a flight risk.

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