The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office reported on July 29 that it had arrested a Sweet Home man who had responded to an online child luring investigation using decoy social media accounts.
As part of the operation, deputies posed as underage children on various social media platforms. During the investigation, they were contacted by adult males who engaged in sexually explicit conversations and attempted to arrange in-person meetings for illegal sexual encounters.
On July 28, a Lincoln County detective traveled to Albany and arrested Jimmy Smith, 45, of Albany, on charges of luring a minor and second-degree online sexual corruption of a child.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, while en route back to Lincoln County with Smith in custody, deputies operating decoy accounts were contacted by Kyle Anthony Carter, 34, of Sweet Home. Based on the nature of the interaction, probable cause was established for Carter’s arrest, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said.
According to the Sheriff’s Office and court records, on July 29, Carter traveled to Newport to meet with a decoy persona and was subsequently arrested. He was charged with luring a minor and first-degree online sexual corruption of a child.