KALAMAZOO COUNTY, Mich. — The Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office held a news conference Friday morning on arrests made in connection to the immoral accosting of children.
Sheriff Fuller says the department recently made six arrests, all for allegedly accosting a minor for immoral purposes (a 4-year felony) and for using a computer to commit a crime (a 4–10-year felony). They have been identified as:
- Paul Eugene Drummond, 58
- John Neal Morrill, 50
- Brandon Joseph Moore, 37
- Alexander Edward Bogdan, 33
- Joshua Bruce Knapp, 43
- Brian Joseph Malone, 39
Fuller tells us Bogdan also faces an aggravated indecent exposure charge (a 2-year misdemeanor), adding Malone has already pleaded guilty.
“Our investigations are finding scary, dangerous people seeking sex with children here in Kalamazoo County," said Sheriff Richard Fuller. “It is too easy for an adult to use a cellphone and computers to connect and groom children.”
Posing as children, members of the department's Kalamazoo Human Oppression Strike Team (KHOST) communicate with alleged predators on various social media apps and websites. Friday, Fuller enlisted the help of local parents too.
“As parents I’m asking you to take that initiative to look at their accounts to see what it is they are texting and who they are texting with," he said. "Please take the time to contact your cellphone providers as well as your computer and internet providers, and ask them what it is you can do to be an active participant in your child’s online activities.”
Watch the news conference here:
The department's team continues to grow to combat child sexual exploitation, but deputies say they need parents to play an active role in monitoring their children's online activities. We're told criminals use thousands of apps and websites to prey on younger users.
Those with information on sex crimes against children are asked to connect with detectives by calling 269-383-8723.
