The News Room [News Release] Sheriff Contact: John Roach: 313-213-5162 Internet predator suspect arrived at arranged sex meet in church van --- 25-year old planned to have sex in vehicle with 14-year old girl
Sheriff Warren C. Evans said that the suspect, Johanan Ballon, chose a peculiar mode of transportation to arrive at the meet site. “He came in a church transportation van, which is where he planned to have sex with the underage girl,” Evans said. “That’s the first time we’ve seen that.” Ballon, is a member of First Filipino Baptist Church in Dearborn and plays drums in the church choir’s band. He had been staying at the residence of the church’s reverend. Although Ballon appears to have used a computer in the reverend’s home to do his chatting, investigators believe the minister had no knowledge of his activities. Ballon, who works at a fast food restaurant in Dearborn, is single and has no children. Investigators say he had been chatting with the undercover officer for about two weeks before arranging the meet. They also say he had been chatting with Macomb County deputies in recent weeks as well. Wayne County deputies learned of the Macomb chats through regular interaction. Ballon was charged with Illegal Use of the Internet. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison and automatic placement on the Michigan Sex Offender Registry. He is being held at the Wayne County Jail in Hamtramck on a $250,000 cash bond. Evans used the case to remind parents to monitor their children’s computer use. “Kids are curious and like to explore,” Evans said. “It’s very important that parents keep frequent tabs and their children and what they are allowing them to be exposed to.” |
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Warren
C. Evans
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25-year old Dearborn man was arraigned this morning on charges
that he used the Internet to set up a meeting for sex with what
he thought was a 14-year old girl, but turned out to be a Wayne
County Sheriff’s Deputy.
