The Troy Chief of Police, Chief Brad Parsons, announced the arrest of 25-year old Kevin W. Battas of Mount Vernon, for Indecent Solicitation of a Child and Grooming.  The charges stem from an investigation conducted by the Troy Police Department during the past month.  Battas is a Mount Vernon High School math teacher, was taken into custody during the evening hours on Wednesday.  During the course of the investigation it was determined that Battas met the child using Whisper, an anonymous social media app.  The investigation revealed that he committed Indecent Solicitation of a Child, because he knowingly discussed an act of sexual conduct with a minor and offered to perform sexual acts upon the minor.  The solicitation of the minor was done using a smart phone or similar device so Battas was also charged with Grooming.  “Smart phones and social media apps have created new avenues for predators to contact and solicit children,” stated Chief Parsons.  “As parents we need to be aware of what our children are doing on their phones and who they are communicating with.  We’re lucky that in this case we were able to intervene before any of the acts could be carried out.”   Indecent Solicitation of a Child is a class 3 felony and carries a sentence of imprisonment of not less than two years and not more than five years.  Grooming is a class 4 felony and carries a sentence of imprisonment of not less than one year and not more than 3 years.  Battas is currently being held at the Madison County Jail on a $150,000 bond.