Viral video of child predator sting sparks debate among prosecutors | #childpredator | #onlinepredator | #sextrafficing

INDIANAPOLIS — It’s becoming a much more common sight both online and in the community: citizen-led vigilante groups posing as underage kids, working to expose child predators online.

A video from a recent sting in Indianapolis by a popular YouTuber is slowly gaining traction, and now, Metro Police and the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office are responding.

The video, circulating on social media, is from Texas-based content creator JiDion Adams, whose channels have a combined 12 million subscribers. Adams told 13News he has helped police arrest dozens of online child predators, including in Indiana.

Adams was in Indianapolis on July 22 to confront an adult youth volleyball coach who was allegedly communicating with a 14-year-old decoy.

(NOTE: 13News is not showing the person’s face nor naming them because they are not currently facing criminal charges.)

Adams said the man continued sending sexually explicit images and text messages on a dating app even after being told the person he was texting was 14 years old.

“We know we’re not police officers, but we like to give this information and the evidence over to police so that way, you know, arrests can be made,” Adams said.

During the confrontation, IMPD officers responded, and in the video, one of the officers told Adams, “I have run into this before, I will say our prosecutor will not touch this,” adding he would “need probable cause that a crime’s been committed.”

The video has countless comments from people asking why the officer didn’t arrest the alleged predator.

Weeks after the video started circulating, Metro Police issued a statement offering clarification:

“IMPD is aware of a video circulating on social media involving an officer and a YouTuber regarding a volleyball coach.

The video does not include important context. At the scene, a police report was filed, and the individual in question was immediately trespassed from the property. IMPD detectives were also notified of the allegations.

We urge members of the public: if you suspect a crime involving a child or adult, please report it directly to your local law enforcement agency. Attempting to intervene independently or record content for social media can compromise investigations and potentially endanger those involved.”

But Adams says other Indiana prosecutors file cases brought about by child predator vigilante groups, pointing to an April sting in Grant County.

13News has reported on several other predator groups landing criminal charges in central Indiana, including Grant and Morgan counties.

“Marion County has a precedent of not taking groups like us seriously when we have arrests in the surrounding area, in their vicinity,” Adams said. 

A spokesperson for the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office told 13News they are not aware of any cases in Marion County that were filed after a sting by a vigilante group, adding in a statement:

“We strongly encourage individuals to report suspected incidents to law enforcement as early as possible. Early reporting not only helps ensure the safety of those at risk but also preserves critical evidence so that it meets the legal and ethical standards required to be admissible in court.

We want law enforcement to investigate potential crimes of abuse— and we want to prosecute them. The Marion County Child Advocacy Center has always worked closely with law enforcement to consult, thoroughly review, and strengthen any case brought forward. Those efforts will continue without exception.”

It’s a similar sentiment several other county prosecutors made to 13News.

Madison County Prosecutor Rodney Cummings has made clear his office will not file charges against people caught by online groups.

“We do not prosecute any cases regarding individuals who try to take the law into their own hands,” Cummings said. “It’s too unsafe for them — the alleged perpetrators or citizens in the community. It’s just not good policy, and it jeopardizes the safety of citizens in the community.”

Cummings added his decision is solely a public safety one. 

“You confront people, call them child molesters; who knows what’s going to happen?” Cummings said. “When they try to get away, they pursue them. We’re just not going to take the risk that somebody’s going to get hurt because they want to get on Facebook or Instagram or try to find some way to make to profit off of this.”

“Them saying that is literally just a cop-out because we have so many convictions in the state of Indiana, and the fact that they haven’t gotten on board with that just shows that they don’t want to prosecute people that are committing these crimes,” Adams said.

Cummings stressed anyone concerned over possible child exploitation should report it to law enforcement directly, including the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.

As of publication, the man accused in the July 22 sting has not been arrested nor is he facing any criminal charges. 

Adams said he turned his evidence over to police. IMPD said detectives are investigating.

13News also reached out to Delaware, Hancock and Monroe County prosecutors. Their statements are below.

Statement to 13News by Prosecutor Eric Hoffman:

“I have taken a lot of public flack from the groups and their supporters, but the bottom line is I, and most prosecutors and law enforcement who have been properly trained in the area, believe that their actions are not lawful and it is NOT ethical for prosecutors to file charges based on their ‘cases.'”

Hoffman’s full statement, which he also shared in 2022, can be found below.

Statement to 13News by Prosecutor Brent Eaton:

“The Hancock County Prosecutor’s Office asks all people who are victims of crime, or believe they have information about a crime that has, or will, occur to contact their local law enforcement agency immediately.

All Hancock County Law Enforcement agencies work to the best of our ability to investigate and prosecute crimes of which we are aware.  Public safety is our first priority.”  

Statement to 13News by Prosecutor Erika Oliphant:

“The Monroe County Prosecutor’s Office is an affiliate of the Internet Crimes Against Children Indiana Task Force (ICAC), and we are bound to adhere to ICAC Operational and Investigative Standards with regard to these crimes.

As such, we would not file a case submitted directly to our office by a predator vigilante group. 

If a predator vigilante group brought their complaint to a law enforcement agency, and it was investigated and submitted to our office by the law enforcement agency, we would review the case as we do any other submitted by law enforcement and file it if there was credible evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

In general, we discourage predator vigilante groups from engaging in these confrontations due to safety concerns, as well as potential evidence integrity issues, and instead urge citizens to bring suspected instances of child solicitation or other criminal activity to the attention of law enforcement.”