A video, shot outside a Gerald business, spread like wildfire across social media Monday night. In the video, a Gerald man was identified by name — who we will call M — arrived at the business prepared to make contact with a 15-year-old girl he had met online.

Instead, M was confronted by Cody Harris of Washington, who runs the group Backwoods Predator Hunters (BPH). Harris recorded the encounter on video and posted it on Facebook. The original post had been shared at least 27 times by Tuesday afternoon.

Harris told The Republican that M responded to a fake profile set up by BPH of a 15-year-old girl. After a few messages back and forth, the fake account reiterated the “girl” was only 15.

“At this point, they can continue to seek the attention of an underage girl or step away,” Harris says.

M continued to pursue the “girl” who turned out to be Harris.

There were a few tense moments between Harris and M after their Feb. 17 confrontation. Eventually, it seems that M says he would go home and delete all the messages and states, “It will never happen again.”

M has at least two Facebook pages. It would seem he is a 27-year-old man from Owensville, who is now living in Gerald.

Gerald Police Chief Jim Helton says his office knew nothing of the occurrence until Tuesday morning. Gerald police reached out to Harris asking for copies of the alleged messages between M and Harris.

“If we can find a way to press criminal charges, we will,” Helton told The Republican. He said his department will investigate the allegations, build a case and then present the evidence to the Franklin County prosecuting attorney. It will be up to that office to decide if charges can be issued.

Helton said this sort of online behavior has been reported before, but it is usually reported by a victim (or a parent) who lives in Gerald. In those cases, the local police would do an investigation, but would also contact the cyber crimes unit of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office for assistance.

Sheriff Steve Pelton agrees that would be the way to properly handle such cases.

“The cyber crimes unit has ways to identify exactly where the messages originate,” Pelton noted. If they live in a town, they should contact their municipal police department. Those living outside city limits should contact the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.

BPH predominantly uses dating sites, other websites and apps to post fake profiles in an attempt to lure men in.

Harris says his group has “been very successful in luring guys in.” He reports, “We have exposed 30 predators.”

None of those 30 alleged predators have been prosecuted to date.

What counts as success here? Shaming these 30 people into leaving the area to set up somewhere else? Helping them find the help they may need to change their behavior? Harris did not have an immediate answer, but did speak to the state of mind of these individuals.

He reports that he has met a few of the 30 after outing them. Finding a public, private place to speak with them, he asks for their backstory. Why a 15-year-old girl?

“You are in a dark state of mind to consider this type of behavior,” Harris notes.

Harris says he has been told that the Mercy medical system will do an evaluation and if a sexual problem is noted, they will provide help. He does not know if the help will be provided free, or if it is covered by most insurance plans.

Monday night a possible crime was exposed. Many on social media were advocating vigilante justice without a court of law involved. 

Will that solve the problem? Do groups like BPH help or hinder law enforcement? Can mental health professionals help change this sort of behavior?

I don’t know, but I will try to find out. See next week’s issue of The Republican for what I learn about this complicated issue that is becoming more prevalent. Or is it?