A Jacksonville man was jailed this week after attempting to lure and sexually corrupt a local teen. The suspect and under-aged victim connected via the Snapchat "Quick Add" feature.
The Jackson County Sheriff's Office reports the juvenile's parents learned of the communications on March 22nd, intervened and reported it to them.
Detectives with the Southern Oregon Child Exploitation Team (SOCET) took over the child's Snapchat account and learned a local man was sexually communicating with the teen.
On Wednesday, the suspect arranged to meet with a SOCET detective posing as the teen. Undercover detectives from the Sheriff's Office, SOCET, Oregon State Police and Medford Police Department positioned themselves at the suspect's prearranged meet-up location in the 2900-block of Crater Lake Highway.
The suspect -- 39-year-old Anthony Nicholas Wheeler of Jacksonville -- was arrested without incident. Wheeler is charged with 1st-Degree and 2nd-Degree Online Sexual Corruption of a Child as well as Luring a Minor. He was lodged at the Jackson County Jail. The case will be prosecuted by the Jackson County District Attorney's Office.
Detectives said this case is a reminder of the importance for parents to be aware of what their children are doing online. They said the vigilance of this child's parents led to a safe outcome.
