The News Room [News Archive]

[1-24-2003]
Internet Crime Unit’s 2nd arrest takes down a repeat sexual predator --- 32-year old Howell man had previous conviction, kidnapping charge

The Wayne County Internet Crimes Unit, which just last week made its first arrest, has brought another suspected pedophile into custody according to Sheriff Warren Evans.

On Friday, January 24, 32-year old Christopher Hayes of Howell was arrested outside a Wendy’s restaurant at Michigan and Telegraph in Dearborn after arranging a meeting with a Sheriff’s Deputy he thought was a 13-year old girl. The two had been chatting online for several days prior to the meeting. During that time, the Hayes made several explicit overtures to the deputy for a sexual encounter.

After making the arrest, officers learned the Hayes has a history of criminal sexual conduct [CSC].

"We have since learned that Mr. Hayes had just completed a probationary period resulting from a prior second-degree criminal sexual conduct conviction," Evans said.

When officers made the arrest, they confiscated some sexual paraphernalia from the Hayes' customized van.

"He appeared to be prepared for a sexual encounter," Evans said.

After the arrest, officers seized computer equipment from Brighton, Michigan home where Hayes had been living.

Hayes was arraigned Sunday, January 26th at 36th District Court on charges of communicating with another over the Internet with intent to commit a crime. He is being held at the Wayne County Jail on $200,000 cash bond. If convicted, Hayes could face up to 20 years in prison.

Hayes’ arrest comes despite extensive media publicity of the Internet Crime Unit’s recent first arrest just more than a week earlier. On January 16th, Farmington Hills resident Scott Sellinger, 30, who also was arrested in Dearborn, was charged with communicating with another on the Internet with intent to commit a crime.

"From the law enforcement side, you would think that these sexual predators would start to back off because of the attention we’ve received," Evans said. "This is just one more indication of how determined these people are to exploit young children. The good news is that we're just as determined to catch them."

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