Vinton County – An online national vigilante organization called Predator Poachers helped put a man under arrest for child porn
On Saturday November 12th the Vinton County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a private organization called “Predator Poachers” out of Houston Texas stating that they had been in contact with an individual from Vinton County with one of their fake online accounts, where the organization was posing as a 13 year old female. Predator Poachers stated that they had conversations between their account and the suspect where the individual had sent naked photographs, and was trying to obtain naked photographs from the fake account. The organization stated that they were currently at the suspect’s residence on State Route 93 and had video recorded their confrontation with him.
Deputies responded to the residence on State Route 93, where it was discovered that the suspect had confessed to having numerous photographs and videos containing child pornography on his cell phone. The electronic devices were seized and will be sent to BCI for analysis.
Mark Vickers Jr., age 25 of Hamden, was arrested at the scene and transported to Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail.
Predator Poachers, an organization that conducts sting operations on adults who seek sexual activities with minors. Since its founding in 2019, the organization has claimed responsibility for arrests in 27 U.S. states.
