A Wagoner County man is behind bars after investigators say he showed up to meet what he thought was a pregnant 15-year-old for sex, only to find law enforcement waiting for him. Authorities say he was arrested Friday before any sexual contact could occur.
Jeffrey McKay was arrested on complaints of lewd acts or proposals to a child and facilitating sexual conduct with a child, according to KOKH. Wagoner County Sheriff Chris Elliott told KOKH, "The safety of our children is our top priority." The station reports deputies moved in and took McKay into custody when he arrived at the arranged meetup with the decoy.
How the sting worked
Investigators say a decoy created a profile on multiple online dating platforms, posing as a pregnant 15-year-old, in order to spot people who were allegedly engaging in unlawful sexual communications with minors, according to the Wagoner County Sheriff's Office. Officials say McKay initiated contact and kept up sexually explicit conversations even after being told the decoy’s age, then allegedly made plans to meet in person.
Similar operations and state response
Sting operations and community groups that pose as minors online have led to arrests across Oklahoma. In one June case in Mead, members of an online group said they pretended to be a 13-year-old and coordinated with deputies to set up an arrest, as reported by KXII. State and federal authorities also rely on Internet Crimes Against Children task forces, and the Department of Justice has detailed OSBI's involvement in ICAC investigations in recent press releases.
What’s next
McKay faces felony complaints in Wagoner County. Those are allegations, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Authorities are urging parents to keep close tabs on their children’s online activity and to report suspicious contacts to local law enforcement.
