JACKSONVILLE, Ore. — A Jacksonville man is in custody after allegedly attempting to lure and sexually corrupt a teenager through Snapchat. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) announced that 39-year-old Anthony Nicholas Wheeler has been arrested and faces multiple charges, including first-degree online sexual corruption of a child, second-degree online sexual corruption of a child, and luring a minor.
The investigation began on March 22, when the victim’s parents discovered concerning communications between their child and Wheeler on Snapchat. The child’s parents promptly intervened and reported the matter to the JCSO. Detectives from the Southern Oregon Child Exploitation Team (SOCET) took over the child’s Snapchat account and confirmed that Wheeler had been sending sexually explicit messages to the minor.
Following the discovery, detectives set up a sting operation to catch Wheeler in the act. On March 26, Wheeler arranged to meet with a detective posing as the child in Medford. The meeting was set for the 2900 block of Crater Lake Highway. At 7:28 p.m., when Wheeler arrived at the location, he was arrested without incident by undercover officers from JCSO, SOCET, Oregon State Police (OSP), and the Medford Police Department (MPD).
Wheeler is currently lodged in the Jackson County Jail, where he faces serious charges related to the attempted sexual exploitation of a child. Authorities are continuing their investigation and encourage parents to remain vigilant about their children’s online safety.
The JCSO issued a reminder to families, urging them to discuss internet safety with their children and establish clear guidelines for online behavior. They emphasized the importance of teaching children how to recognize red flags in online interactions and the need for open communication between parents and children.
Parents are also encouraged to report any suspected cases of online enticement or sexual exploitation immediately. Authorities can be contacted through 911, the FBI, or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-843-5678 or through their website.
As the investigation unfolds, authorities stress the importance of continued vigilance in keeping children safe from online predators.