MI- Transcripts from alleged predators' online chats show hesitation, suspicion in talk with decoy teen

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

GRAND RAPIDS — In an online chat a week ago with someone he thought was a 14-year-old girl, insurance representative ____ allegedly talked about being nervous to meet the teen for sex.

"i wish i wasn't, but i care that you dont get hurt and i don't go to jail," jason24829 wrote, according to transcripts released by authorities. "i don't want to lose everything i have."

The 14-year-old — really a decoy for an Internet sting operation — voiced disappointment that ____, 34, might back out and not want to "hook up."

"you know i do...i just have A LOT to lose ya know," wrote jason24829.

"sowwwy," wrote angeldreemzzz, the decoy.

"my home, my job everything," jason24829 wrote.

Angeldreemzzz: "i jst wanna have fun."

Jason24829: "i know. me too."

Transcripts of Internet chats that led up to last weekend's child predator sting at a Grand Rapids Township home, nabbing 21 men, including ___ of Cedar Springs, shows the mindset of some of the suspects. ____ was hesitant, but drove to meet the teen anyway and was arrested after driving his mini-van past the house.

_____, 35, of Indiana, was bold enough to ask his decoy, carriebear_94, whether she was the police.

"u not going 2 have police or anything like that their r u," he wrote.

The decoy acted surprised and offended.

"well with undercover cops on line and such have 2 b caucious. do u blame me." he wrote.

_____, who told the decoy he was married, wrote that he would tell his wife he wanted to be alone, then drive to their rendezvous. He was arrested last Friday after stepping inside the Grand Rapids Township house and was swarmed by police.

Authorities hope the high-profile sting operation, with the public humiliation that comes with the arrests, will deter would-be child predators from talking with young teens on the Internet.

"It can cause a predator to think twice, or a criminal to think twice," said Matt Frendewey, a spokesman for state Attorney General Mike Cox. "The second factor is, it also draws attention to the problem for parents to realize this issue is prevalent across the state."

Kent County Sheriff Larry Stelma, whose department joined with the Attorney General's office and national organization Perverted Justice for the sting, is not convinced stings will keep predators away from chat rooms, but is all for arresting them when possible.

"Even as you and I are speaking, I would wager there is somebody out there right now trying to entice a young girl or boy into an immoral act," he said.

Internet predators do not believe they will get caught, he said.

"Everyone else is going to get caught, they think," he said.

Stelma said the scope of the problem is immense and believes his department could do another sting in 30 days and make more arrests. Stelma approved $25,000 in overtime for the weekend operation and said, if asked, he would join in another "in a heartbeat."

Before this sting, operations conducted by the Attorney General's Office and police agencies across the state resulted in more than 200 arrests. Additional arrests are expected of those who had inappropriate chats with minors but did not show at the sting house.

Frendewey said the Internet provides predators with easy access to minors.

"It's a serious problem. It's a serious threat," he said.

Still, authorities must continue getting the word out so that parents understand the threat. He said parents would undoubtedly act if a stranger showed up while the kids played in the back yard, but might not recognize the threat of the computer in the living room.

Of the 21 men arrested in last weekend's sting, at least five had posted a $50,000 bond to get out of jail. Bond conditions prevent them from being around minors or using the Internet. ..News Source.. by John Tunison and John Agar The Grand Rapids Press