ALLEGHANY COUNTY, VA (WSET) — An alleged sexual predator from Oklahoma is facing charges thanks in part to work done by investigators with Virginia’s Alleghany County Sheriff’s Office.
On August 2, investigators with the office began an online conversation with a man who was later identified as James A. Janis. At the time, Janis believed he was interacting with a 13-year-old and made attempts to solicit them for sexual purposes.
Investigators said during the conversation Janis mentioned his sexual interests in another 13-year-old, who was a family friend, but needed help with grooming and soliciting the minor.
Janis also mentioned a 15-year-old who worked at an ice cream business he owned, and during the conversation, he sent photos of young girls at a community event and made statements about what he wanted to do to them, according to investigators.
Further investigation determined Janis was located in Lawton, Oklahoma, and the Oklahoma Bureau of Investigations was contacted.
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The Alleghany County Sheriff’s Office said one of its investigators was sent to Oklahoma to assist in the execution of a search warrant at Janis’s home. The process uncovered the identifications of past and potential future victims of Janis, who were then contacted by Oklahoma officials.
Janis was arrested and is facing 25 years to life.
Law enforcement in Alleghany County was able to conduct the online investigation thanks to a laptop donated to them through a partnership with the Covington Moose Lodge and the SafeSurfin Foundation, intended to be used for the detection, location and prosecution of sexual predators in the investigation of Internet Crimes Against Children.
“This could easily have happened in Alleghany County,” said Sheriff Kyle Moore. “It is our intent to put an end to violent crime that is directed towards our children in Alleghany County.”
Moore said it is important for parents to take an interest in what their kids are doing online.