Lubbock man arrested in online sting sentenced to 18 years in prison

A 53-year-old man who cycled about 1/2 hour to bring meth to what he thought was a 15-year-old girl he planned to have sex with was sentenced last week to 18 years in prison.

Joey Ellison appeared by internet video conference on Feb. 13 and pleaded guilty to a count of online solicitation of a minor for sex.

The offense is a third-degree felony, which carries a punishment of two to 10 years in prison. However, Ellison faced an enhanced punishment range of between two to 20 years in prison since he had a prior felony conviction for a drug offense in 1998, according to court records.

Ellison's charge stems from a March 26, 2021 undercover operation targeting online sex predators by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Ellison contacted on an online chatroom what he believed was a 15-year-old girl that was actually an undercover DPS trooper and agreed to meet with her, prosecutors said.

Ellison told the person he believed was a teenage girl that he was bringing condoms, alcohol, marijuana and methamphetamine.

Law enforcement arrested Ellison when he arrived on a bicycle at the meeting place about a half hour later.

A search of his person yielded methamphetamine, officials said.

He was booked into the Lubbock County Detention Center and released on bond on Nov. 20, 2021. He was re-arrested on Feb. 21, 2023 and has been in custody since.

Ellison will have to register as a sex offender when he is released from prison.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Man caught bringing meth to officer posing as teen gets 18 years