Charles Peter Zerby Herwick arrested after 'alarming texts' found on girl's phone, cops say

PORT ST. LUCIE — A 23-year-old man accused of sending inappropriate text messages to a 13-year-old girl was arrested Sunday on a felony charge, according to recently released records.

Charles Peter Zerby Herwick, of the 1300 block of Southwest Amboy Avenue in Port St. Lucie, was arrested on a lewd computer solicitation of a child charge in connection with the incidents, which appear to have begun in December.

In June, Port St. Lucie police were told the girl's parents reviewed her phone and found "alarming texts" from Zerby Herwick.

The girl told investigators that Zerby Herwick, also known as "Chappy," was persistent in phone conversations about wanting to have sex with her.

In text messages, Zerby Herwick is accused of asking for inappropriate photographs and making other sexually based requests, such as asking whether she had viewed pornography and asking whether she had committed a lewd act on herself.