Newton Police Department has arrested a 60-year-old Des Moines man who believed he was speaking with a 15-year-old child when he allegedly sent nude photos and solicited sex acts from them online. However, the child was actually an undercover police officer conducting yet another online sting.
According to a press release from the police department, officers initiated an investigation into a potential online child predator on Aug. 20. The suspected was identified as Thomas Coleman. On Sept. 2, the Newton Police Department and Des Moines Police Department executed a search and seizure warrant.
Coleman was subsequently taken into custody without incident and was booked into the Jasper County Jail. He was charged with grooming (Class D felony), enticement of a minor under 16 for a sexual purpose (Class D felony) and sexual exploitation of a minor (Class B felony).
Criminal complaints obtained by Newton News say Coleman used Kik, a social media platform frequently used by online predators, to communicate with the undercover police officer posing as a 15-year-old. Coleman allegedly used the alias “Steve McMichael” on the site and claimed he was 48 years old.
Even though Coleman was made aware he was talking to a 15-year-old, he still asked for “full body” photos with “less clothing” and continued making sexual comments. When the undercover officer said their mother was not home until later, Coleman asked again for their address.
When officers met with Coleman, he confirmed he uses a Kik account with the username that matched the one the undercover officer had been speaking to. Coleman recalled speaking with the child alias and estimated them to be around 16 years of age. Coleman admitted to sending the messages to the child alias.
Coleman said this type of conversation was “routine” for him.
