A 44-year-old man from Troy, Michigan, has been ordered to spend decades in a Nebraska prison after a Lincoln judge found he tried to lure what he believed was a 14-year-old through social media. What started as an undercover chat on a fake account ended with his arrest in Lincoln last year.
Decades-Long Term Reported In Court Documents
Court records show Brad Strickland was sentenced Monday to a minimum of 45 years and a maximum of 50 years in prison on a charge of child enticement using an electronic communication device, according to KOLN. Prosecutors said Strickland exchanged messages and arranged to meet the person he believed was a minor, and the judge handed down what the station reports is the maximum sentence.
Undercover Chat Led To Arrest
The Lincoln Police Department’s Special Victims Unit says the investigation began in late May 2025 when an investigator created a social media account that presented as a 14-year-old. Police allege Strickland, using an alias, offered money for photos and set up a meeting near the Gateway Mall, where officers arrested him two days later, as reported by KFOR.
How Local Courts Have Treated Similar Cases
Long terms are becoming a familiar outcome in Lancaster County sting cases. Earlier this year, a Lincoln man convicted after a similar undercover child enticement operation also received a 45-to-50-year sentence, according to reporting from KOLN. Police officials say undercover work and tips about suspected online child exploitation remain key priorities for local investigators.
