Online decoy captures registered sex offender arranging sex with teen

A 27-year-old registered sex offender from Redlands was recently arrested after investigators said he tried to arrange a sexual encounter with an online decoy who was posing as a 15-year-old boy.

Kyle Freet is registered as a sex offender due to a prior conviction for attempting to meet a minor for sexual act, officials with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said.

The sheriff’s Crimes Against Children Detail used a social media site to pose as a 15-year-old boy, and during the investigation Freet began chatting with the decoy for about a week, according to the sheriff’s release.

Investigators said Freet became aware that the boy (decoy) was 15 and began sending nude photos as he arranged to meet the decoy at a home in Yucaipa, where he believed the child was home alone.

According to the sheriff’s department, Freet discussed performing various sexual acts with the decoy, despite being told about his young age.

Freet was found at a home in Redlands on Friday, August 5 with some help from California State Parole officers. He was interviewed at the home and was then booked into the Central Detention Center. He has since been moved to the West Valley Detention Center pending court proceedings, investigators said in the news release.

Freet is facing charges of arranging to meet with a minor for sexual acts and for sending harmful matter to a minor.

Investigators ask anyone with information about this case, or other victims, to call detectives at the Sheriff’s Crimes Against Children Detail at 909-387-3615.