The Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office says eight men have been arrested following a months-long undercover operation targeting people accused of trying to meet minors for sex.
How was the investigation conducted?
Investigators say they worked with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, which develops leads involving online child exploitation. Sheriff’s investigators then conducted undercover operations using trained decoys posing as minors.
Officials say hundreds of people contacted undercover accounts during the investigation, but only eight cases resulted in arrests so far.
Sheriff Chris Elliott said child predators often do not fit common stereotypes.
“They come from every walk of life,” Elliott said. “They’re not what you think a sexual predator is.”
Operation began months before arrests
Investigators said planning for the operation began about four months before the first arrests were made in late May.
Lead investigator Jake Carey said the conversations investigators uncovered were among the most disturbing he has encountered.
“I’ve done a lot of cases, but these were incredibly graphic and incredibly dangerous,” Carey said.
According to investigators, several suspects traveled hundreds of miles from Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri after arranging meetings with people they believed were 14- or 15-year-old girls.
No actual children were involved.
Who was arrested?
The Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office announced arrests involving the following suspects:
- Marcus Mapes, of Broken Arrow
- Aaron Wendt, of Tulsa
- Michael Schuster, of Clarksville, Arkansas
- Jeffrey McKay, of Honobia, Oklahoma
- Philip Klonowski, of Joplin, Missouri
- Randall Mukes, of Tulsa
- Cody Bearden, of Tulsa
- Brett Tucker, of Tulsa
Investigators say each case involved separate undercover operations and varying charges, including facilitating sexual conduct with a minor, lewd proposals to a child, child sexual exploitation and other felony offenses.
Investigators describe sexually explicit conversations between suspects and an undercover officer, who the suspects knew were under age.
In one case, investigators say Brett Tucker communicated with someone he believed was a 14-year-old girl and suggested she obtain birth control before meeting him.
Carey said investigators were concerned not only by the online conversations but by suspects who were willing to travel long distances to meet children they believed were real.
Parents urged to monitor children’s online activity
Carey encouraged parents to closely monitor their children’s phones and social media use.
“My message to parents is to invade your kid’s privacy,” Carey said. “There’s no reason why you can’t be on their phones and looking at who they’re talking to.”He also urged parents to trust their instincts if something feels wrong online and contact law enforcement if they have concerns.
Sheriff: Protecting children is the priority
Sheriff Elliott said every arrest helps prevent future victims.
“Every time you take a predator off the street, you minimize that person victimizing somebody again,” Elliott said.
He said educating parents, children and schools about online safety remains a key part of preventing child exploitation.
