January 13, 2026

Boaz Man Arrested by Baldwin County Deputies For Electronic Solicitation of a Child

By Rick McCann
Blue RAM Media/Gulf Coast News

January 13, 2026

BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. An Etowah County man is in custody in Baldwin County after an arrest warrant was served on him on Thursday, January 8, 2026.

The Etowah County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office,
arrested James Eric Sitz, 50 for was electronic solicitation of a child.

Sitz is accused of communicating sexually with an online fourteen-year-old who was actually an investigator with the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff investigators said that the contact occurred in August of 2025 which began the investigation.

Authorities also say Sitz was linked to a different undercover investigation by a law enforcement officer in West Virginia.

Sheriff Horton said during a post-arrest interview, Sitz admitted to engaging in inappropriate online communications with the undercover persona. Horton said multiple electronic devices were also seized that possibly contained child sexual abuse material depicting young teenage girls.

“This arrest is the result of a proactive, long-term investigation and strong cooperation between local, state, and federal partners,” Sheriff Jonathon Horton said. “Protecting our children is a top priority, and we remain committed to identifying and holding accountable anyone who seeks to exploit them.”

Other law enforcement agencies are also involved and more charges are possible.