Crime & Safety

Essex Attorney/Magician Pleads Guilty in Child Sex Case

Howard Scott Kalin, 48, admitted he traveled to Florida in May to have sex with teenaged boy.

An Essex attorney could face up to 10 years in prison after he admitted in a plea agreement to traveling to Florida with hopes of having sex with a teenaged boy, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

Howard Scott Kalin, 48, a lawyer and owner of Funhouse Entertainment Agency in Lutherville, pleaded guilty to one count of attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, according to a plea agreement, which was filed in federal court in Orlando. His sentencing is set for Sept. 14.

According to a news release from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Kalin, who lives in the 1700 block of Anne Ave., first contacted undercover detectives in January through online chatting services. During that time, Kalin identified himself under his alias name of “Ben Aldridge,” the release states.

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Cyber crimes undercover detectives posing simultaneously as a 14-year-old boy and as a caregiver, communicated with Kalin several times online, the release states. During these communications, Kalin told the detectives that he planned to travel to Florida on May 23 to meet with the boy and his caregiver, according to the release.

According to the release, Kalin, who also advertises himself as a magician, told undercover detectives that he would bring a basketball to the child and planned on having sex with the boy during his visit.

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According to police, Kalin traveled to Florida in May with the intention of meeting the boy and the caretaker. Detectives arrested Kalin shortly after he arrived at a pre-determined location in Lake County, FL. He was holding the basketball at the time of his arrest, according to the Sentinel.


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