A Wagoner County man was taken into custody in June after deputies say he answered an online decoy profile and arrived to meet who he thought was a minor. Investigators say the sting started with a tip from a certified confidential informant and ended when deputies moved in and arrested the suspect without a struggle. Authorities identified the man as Randall Mukes, who was booked on complaints of lewd or indecent proposals or acts to a child and facilitating sexual conduct with a minor.
Tip led to undercover online decoy
The Wagoner County Sheriff's Office launched the undercover case in June after getting a lead from a certified confidential informant, according to KOKH. Deputies say they set up an online decoy account that was contacted by a man later identified as Mukes, who allegedly kept up sexually explicit conversations and then agreed to an in-person meeting, where deputies were waiting.
Sheriff praises 'proactive' work
Wagoner County Sheriff Chris Elliott publicly backed the sting, calling it "a direct result of proactive investigative work and a coordinated undercover operation designed to identify and stop individuals who attempt to exploit minors," as he told KOKH. Elliott added that deputies "were able to safely take the suspect into custody without incident," a detail that underscores how quickly some of these online chats can end with a real-world arrest.
What investigators say about the operation
Investigators say decoy profiles, chat logs and other digital surveillance tools have become central to identifying adults who seek sex with minors before a child ever shows up in the conversation. According to the Wagoner County Sheriff's Office, community tips and its dedicated tip line are a key part of the strategy, since many of these cases begin with someone noticing something off and calling it in.
A string of recent decoy stings
This latest arrest lands on a growing list of recent undercover operations in Wagoner County. Sex sting nabs registered offender detailed the earlier arrest of Marcus Mapes in a teen-decoy case, and cops collar Wagoner County man covered the bust of Jeffrey McKay. In another incident on May 30, local outlet KRMG reported that a sting ended in a pursuit when a suspect tried to flee, a reminder that these operations can shift from quiet online exchanges to high-risk takedowns in a hurry.
Legal note
Under Oklahoma law, making lewd or indecent proposals or committing acts toward a child under 16 is a felony under 21 O.S. § 1123, and state statutes also criminalize using technology to facilitate or solicit sexual conduct with a minor. Those laws carry substantial penalties, including the possibility of lengthy prison terms and sex-offender registration. Prosecutors will review the investigative file before deciding whether to seek formal charges. As outlined in 21 O.S. § 1123 (available through OSCN) and 21 O.S. § 1040.13a (published on Justia), the fact that officers or decoy profiles are involved in the communication does not block prosecution.
How to report tips
Anyone with information about this case or similar activity is asked to contact the Wagoner County Sheriff's Office tip line at (918) 485-7799 or file a report through the department's website. The sheriff's office notes that community tips are often the first clue that leads to an investigation and can be critical in preventing children from being harmed, and it urges anyone with relevant information to speak up.
