TICONDEROGA, N.Y. (WRGB) — In team coverage on what led to Clarence Russell Jr.’s arrest, CBS6’s Anthony Krolikowski interviewed “The Underagent” who conducted the sting operation. 40-year-old Eric Arthurs said he has been decoying alleged adult predators online since his late teens and was a victim of child sexual abuse himself.
“I knew this was a set-up,” said Russell to The Underagent after shaking hands on Labor Day. Arthurs said the Santa impersonator responded to one of his many online posts from decoy accounts. After talking online and through text messages for about a week, with The Underagent posing as a mother, the two met in person.
“I told him that the decoy house was just a random house across the street. I took my dog for a walk that morning so I was just waiting with the camera,” described Arthurs.
The Underagent said he had an hour-long conversation with Russell at a municipal parking lot where Arthurs confronted the North Country Santa, also known as Rusty, over who he was allegedly there for. That included a 13-year-old girl. “I put up a post in Dark Age Play stating that I was a single mother that was looking for anybody that would be in the upstate New York region that would be willing to help me with a revenge scenario at home that involved real life dark family taboo,” explained Arthurs.
The family did not really exist but The Underagent recorded Russell’s written and spoken alleged intent and took note of what was inside his vehicle.
“Rusty did in fact show up with condoms and lubrication. If they bring items that are indicative of the messages that were asked from them in the messages then that just strengthens the case,” added Arthurs.
The Underagent’s last step was calling the Ticonderoga Police Department. “Through having multiple arrests in Ticonderoga, I have kind of gained like a casual, cordial relationship with them. They’re very supportive of my intentions here with what I’m trying to do with get these monsters noticed, arrested, charged and convicted.”
Arthurs described confronting alleged child predators in stings as an adrenaline rush greater than skydiving. He works independently from any law enforcement agency. CBS6’s Anthony Krolikowski reached out to the Ticonderoga Police Department about their relationship and is awaiting a response.
