EDWARDSVILLE — A Missouri man wearing a shirt saying “In my defense, I was left unsupervised” was charged with multiple felonies after an Alton sex sting operation by an online predator hunting group.
The 37-year-old St. Peters, Missouri, man was charged June 9 with indecent solicitation of a child and traveling to meet a minor, both Class 3 felonies; and solicitation to meet a child and grooming, both Class 4 felonies.
The Alton Police Department presented the case.
According to court documents, on June 7, the suspect allegedly solicited what he thought was a 13-year-old girl with the intent of committing aggravated criminal sexual abuse; traveled to Alton to meet the minor at the Walgreens at 1650 Washington Ave., Alton; and used electronic communications to lure the intended victim.
The suspect was ordered remanded to jail.
According to a petition to deny pre-trial release filed by the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office, officers responded to a report of a suspect attempting to meet with what he believed was a 13-year-old girl for sex.
After he was taken into custody, a search warrant was obtained for his cell phone, and police also contacted the adult who had been communicating with the suspect on the “Plenty of Fish” app, as well as through text messages and telephone calls.
The messages between the two showed that after the adult in contact with the suspect “clearly” identified as a 13-year-old girl, the suspect said he wanted to have sex with her and arranged the meeting.
When he was arrested, the suspect was wearing a shirt saying “In my defense, I was left unsupervised.”
The group Online Predator Intervention took credit for the sting, posting videos on its Facebook page.
This individual has only been charged and remains innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. All charges may not be reported.
