A Reynoldsburg man is behind bars in Fairfield County after an online decoy operation led investigators to say he tried to set up an in-person meeting with someone he believed was a 13-year-old. The Fairfield County Sheriff's Office took the 53-year-old into custody yesterday and said criminal charges are pending. Officials said the arrest followed documentation turned over to investigators by a nonprofit that runs what it describes as ethical decoy operations.
How investigators say it unfolded
According to ABC6/WSYX, The Decoy Project reported that the suspect, identified as 53-year-old Patrick N. Smith of Reynoldsburg, first made contact on May 31 with an adult decoy who identified as a 13-year-old. Investigators said Smith then asked to move the conversation to another messaging platform.
The organization turned over chat logs, voice communications, screenshots and supporting documentation to the Fairfield County Sheriff's Office. After reviewing that material, investigators opened an active probe that led to Smith's arrest yesterday. The sheriff's office told ABC6 that criminal charges are pending and that Smith is being held at the county jail.
The Decoy Project's role
The Decoy Project is a Florida-based 501(c)(3) that says it runs ethical decoy operations to identify suspected predators, preserve communications and forward evidence to law enforcement agencies. The group outlines protocols on its website for maintaining chain-of-custody and lists hundreds of contacts and dozens of active case referrals from volunteers. It also stresses that it does not confront targets and instead routes material directly to local, state or federal partners.
Charges and next steps
The outlet reported that The Decoy Project called the Smith case the 15th arrest tied to cases it has reported in less than a year and said the group has engaged with thousands of suspected predators during its operations. Prosecutors are expected to review the sheriff's investigation and the submitted evidence to decide whether to file formal charges. In the meantime, the Fairfield County Jail is listed as the holding facility in the case.
Where to get help
If you believe a child is in immediate danger, call 911. For online concerns, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children operates the CyberTipline for reporting suspected child sexual exploitation, and The Decoy Project publishes additional safety and reporting resources on its website.
