Oklahoma man pleads guilty to having online sexual relationship with Ocean City juvenile
An Oklahoma man was recently arrested and pleaded guilty to having an online sexual relationship with a minor in Ocean City, Maryland in 2020.
What we know about the investigation and arrest
Wyatt Andrew Johnson, 24, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was arrested in October after an investigation that began in 2020 regarding inappropriate sexual conversations between Johnson and a juvenile located in Ocean City, Maryland, the Ocean City Police Department said in a release.
The investigation into Johnson began in June of 2020 after Child Protective Services referred the case. According to Ocean City police, during the investigation, detectives learned that the juvenile, who was 14 years old at the time, and Johnson were having an online sexual relationship through chat applications like Discord, iMessage, Instagram and Facebook Messenger. Over several months, the juvenile and Johnson engaged in inappropriate conversations, and Johnson gave "commands" to the juvenile for sexual humiliation.
Detectives applied for charges in October of 2020, and an arrest warrant was issued for Johnson. The warrant was served in October of 2023, and Johnson was held without bond until his court appearance on Nov. 27.
Johnson entered a plea deal and pleaded guilty to one count of publishing/disturbing obscene material, and was sentenced to one year in jail with all but 39 days suspended. Johnson has been released from custody.
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OC police offer safety tips for avoiding, uncovering sexual predators
The Ocean City Police Department provided safety tips and warning signs for parents to share with children about dealing with online predators in their release, from the National Children's Advocacy Center:
Spend time having fun with your parents online and helping them understand technology!
Never post your personal information, such as a cell phone number, home number, home address, or your location, on any social networking site or through mobile apps like Snapchat or Instagram.
Never meet in person with anyone you first "met" on the internet. If someone asks to meet you, tell your parents or guardian right away. Some people may not be who they say they are.
Check with your parents before you post pictures of yourself or others online. Do not post inappropriate pictures of anyone.
Never respond to mean or rude texts, messages, and emails. Delete any unwanted messages. You may need to delete friends who continuously bother you or post things that are not appropriate.
Never share your password with anyone, including your best friend. The only people who should know your password are your parents or guardian.
If you wouldn't say something to another person's face, don't text it or post it online.
Do not download or install software or anything on your computer or cell phone before checking with your parents or guardian.
Use the privacy settings of social networking sites.
Talk with your parents or guardian immediately if anything makes you feel uncomfortable online, while gaming, or using your cell phone.
This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Ocean City announces arrest of online predator who pursued juvenile
