CLEARFIELD CO., Pa. (EYT) – Clearfield County District Attorney Ryan Sayers has announced that cases brought to law enforcement by “predator hunter” groups will no longer be prosecuted in the county.
(Photo above: Screenshot of video of 814 Pred Hunters members confronting an alleged child predator.)
So-called predator hunter groups are manned by local volunteers pretending to be juveniles, who work to catch would-be child predators.
“814 Pred Hunters” has risen in popularity in Clearfield County because of their effective methods to ensnare men who lure children to meet-up with them for the purpose of engaging in sexual relations with their victims. Their “catches” are livestreamed on the Internet.
Sayers told WJAC that his office’s attempts to charge defendants in the cases aren’t working because Pennsylvania state law requires would-be abusers to either make contact with a child under the age of 18 years or a law enforcement officer pretending to be under the age of 18 years.
President Judge Fredric Ammerman is throwing out charges in cases originating with predator hunter groups – saying the groups do not qualify under the law.
“I know there’s a lot of people that support the pred hunters and what they do, but we have to act within the confines of the law,” Sayers told WJAC.
With cases being thrown out, it’s unclear how groups like 814 Pred Hunters are going to respond.
Attempts to speak to members of 814 Pred Hunters were unsuccessful.
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