MI- Men arrested in Internet predator sting come from varied backgrounds, states

10-22-2008 Michigan: (Phase-I)

GRAND RAPIDS TOWNSHIP -- One is a coach for the Cedar Springs junior varsity soccer team. Another drives a truck delivering cookie dough to schools. Yet another is a hockey referee for youth and adult games.

The three men were among 21 arrested in an Internet child sexual predator sting at a Grand Rapids Township home over the weekend, accused of trying to meet with a young teen for sex.

The teen was not real -- a made-up Internet persona of a 14-year-old girl or boy -- but the Kent County sheriff's deputies waiting inside the home to arrest arriving men were authentic.

All 21 men were arraigned Monday in 63rd District Court on charges of child sexually abusive activity and using a computer to commit a crime. They were ordered held in the Kent County Jail on $50,000 bonds. Despite pleas to have their bonds lowered, 63rd District Judge Sara Smolenski refused, citing public safety.

The men come from varied backgrounds and three states and range in age from 20 to 65. But some have jobs that bring them into closer contact with children than others.

Of the 21, seven are from Kent County and one is from Allegan County.

The youngest among them, 20-year-old ____, of Cedar Springs, is the junior varsity boys soccer coach at Cedar Springs High School. He is a first-year coach for mostly freshmen and sophomores, and the season ended earlier this month.

Cedar Springs Schools officials talked with his players Monday and sent a letter home to parents, advising of his arrest and to report any concerns.

So far, Superintendent Andrew Booth said he is not aware of any complaints or issues from the players. A criminal background check on ____ came back clean before he was given the coaching post.

If ____ is found guilty, he automatically will lose the coaching spot, Booth said.

"He seemed like a nice young man when we hired him," he said.

The state attorney general's office worked with the national organization Perverted Justice and the Kent County Sheriff's Department to set up the sting. Undercover agents pretending to be young teens chatted on the Internet for up to two months with would-be predators, then agreed to a meeting sought by the suspect.

-Here it says "agents" not "officers" obviously meaning it was Perverted Justice, not police.

Attorney general lawyers say the suspects always were the ones to bring up sex and a possible meeting.

Monday, family and friends of several suspects watched as the men were arraigned. The accused could face 20 years in prison if convicted.

The mother of one man, ____, 24, of Byron Center, was distraught over his arrest and said she cannot understand how he could get wrapped up in an Internet sting.

"It's shocking and devastating," she said, not wanting to be named. "Your whole life is turned upside down."

She believes her son, who has leukemia and lost his father at a young age, suffered some sort of mental breakdown.

"I love my son very much and always will. I hope he gets the help he needs," she said.

____, like some of the other suspects, is a college student. He attends Grand Rapids Community College, has a 2-year-old child and works full time at an automotive repair shop.

_____, 30, of Hazel Park, told the judge he has three jobs, including working full time at a restaurant and part time as a video technician for the Detroit Red Wings and a referee for USA Hockey, officiating at adult and youth matches.

_____, 45, of Wyoming, said he drives a truck, delivering cookie dough to food service departments at schools.

_____, 34, of Cedar Springs, has worked six years for a Cascade insurance company as a claims representative.

_____, 22, of Wyoming, works part time for Meijer. He has worked since he was 14 and has never been in legal trouble, said attorney Craig Haehnel on his behalf, unsuccessfully seeking a lower bond.

Most of the men charged have no criminal records, although one or two had offenses like drunken driving or domestic violence in their background.

In a press conference Monday at the Kent County Sheriff's Department, Attorney General Mike Cox said one of the suspects missed his son's soccer game Saturday to drive to the decoy house.

Another had kissed his wife goodbye while his two children were sleeping before heading to the decoy house.

Cox said the suspects simply do not think they will get caught, despite some admitting they have seen "To Catch a Predator" episodes on television.

"They think there are so many children out there, that the odds there is going to be a police officer on the other end of the Internet is low," he said.

The suspects are scheduled for Nov. 3 probable cause hearings before Smolenski. ..News Source.. by The Grand Rapids Press