A Buffalo elementary school teacher found himself in a shocking situation when he went to meet a 13-year-old teen girl he had been chatting with online and, instead of meeting the young girl named Lilly, he was confronted by a member of Predator Poachers, a group that creates fake social media profiles of underage girls to expose adult men. The encounter was recorded on camera and later posted on YouTube.
The teacher, identified as Steven DeMart, had been engaging in lengthy conversations with Lilly for about a year. However, as he parked his car in an Amherst parking lot, he was ambushed by Alex Rosen, a member of Predator Poachers. Rosen confronted DeMart about his intentions towards Lilly, holding printed pages of their explicit messages and referring to explicit images that were allegedly sent by DeMart to the underage girl.
In the hour-long video, DeMart expressed remorse and argued that he had formed a genuine bond with Lilly.
He claimed that he would not have attempted any sexual contact until she reached the legal age. Despite his arguments, DeMart ultimately decided to turn himself in to the Amherst police. He now faces a charge of attempted endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor.
Following the incident, DeMart was placed on administrative leave by Buffalo Public Schools, where he serves as an instrumental music teacher at Dr. George Blackman School of Excellence. The district website confirmed his suspension pending an investigation.
The video of the exchange between DeMart and Rosen has gained significant attention, with over 136,000 views and more than 1,600 comments. While Predator Poachers describes themselves as "investigative journalists," their tactics have raised legal questions. Law enforcement agencies rarely encourage the public to pursue this type of investigation, citing concerns about entrapment and adherence to legal regulations.
Mark Bartholomew, a law professor at the University at Buffalo, highlighted the complexities surrounding these sting operations. He emphasized the importance of following legal protocols and regulations when conducting investigations, as private individuals may not be aware of the specific requirements.
This incident is not the first time Predator Poachers has exposed individuals through their sting operations. The group claims to have led to arrests in over 40 states, similar to the NBC show "To Catch a Predator." However, some officials discourage others from following their example, urging the public to leave such investigations to law enforcement.
Crimes targeting children are considered particularly heinous, and there is a growing concern that law enforcement struggles to keep up with the volume of online misconduct. While some argue that private sting operations can be justified as a means to combat these crimes, others emphasize the importance of adhering to legal procedures and regulations.
The Amherst police have issued an appearance ticket to DeMart, and an ongoing investigation is underway. Buffalo Schools spokesperson Jeffrey Hammond stated that the district is unable to comment on personnel matters but confirmed that DeMart has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the investigation.
It remains to be seen how this case will unfold and what impact it will have on the ongoing conversation surrounding online child exploitation and the role of private individuals in combating such crimes.