5 Arrested After Operation To Catch Predators In Canadian County

The Canadian County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) conducted an operation with Safe from Online Sex Abuse (SOSA) that resulted in the arrest of five people who were allegedly seeking teenagers in Canadian County.

During the four-day operation, which included the use of a decoy house in Canadian County, the suspects believed they were speaking to a 14 and 15-year-old girl. 

During the operation, SOSA, a nonprofit organization, had two females act as decoys and communicated with the suspects.

The communication between the suspects and decoys included video chats, text messages, phone calls and social media.

The CCSO said the conversations escalated to sexually graphic conversations quickly.

Through the conversations, the suspects said they were worried about being caught by law enforcement.

The stings occurred at a decoy house, hotels and restaurants that were chosen by the suspects.

The suspects cooperated with authorities and admitted to what their intentions were when they met the decoys.

The five suspects: Trace Turkelson, 22, William Copeland IV, 29, Cody Ewing, 27, Tracy Fisher, 41, and Otha Smith III, 37, were arrested.

The suspects were booked on the complaints of facilitating sexual communication with a minor, lewd acts with a child under 16, intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance to a minor, and violations of the Oklahoma Computer Crimes Act.