A 55-year-old Oklahoma lawyer was arrested and accused of trying to pay for sex with a 5-year-old girl.
Deputies with the Canadian County Sheriff’s Office said an informant told them Thursday that 55-year-old Michael Lunday asked her to arrange sex with the child. The deputies then carried out a sting operation pretending there would be a child available.
They used a hidden camera to gather details from the suspect, including what he planned to do with the child. Lunday said he liked younger children because they were less impacted by sexual abuse, according to a deputy.
Not even 20 minutes before Lunday arrived at the meeting place, a home in Mustang, he had gone to buy condoms and other items.
“When we do predator stings, all the time, the conversations we have with the decoys and the suspects, they’re pretty egregious and disgusting. What makes this one even more heinous is the fact that it was a 5 year old,” said Maj. Adam Flowers with the Canadian County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators said he practiced family law, and there is a possibility he had more victims. However, they will not know until the investigation is further along.
Law enforcement agents are still looking at his electronics and know the suspect viewed child pornography, as well.
“We’ve executed warrants on his personal devices, including his house, and we’ve recovered a bunch of electronic devices, and we’re currently in the process of examining those,” Flowers said. “We’re not just looking for child pornography but other victims that he may had or other dealings that he tried to set up.”
Deputies praised the informant, saying she kept her composure very well throughout the operation. They said the arrest could not have been made without her.
The operation took place over a four-hour span.
Lunday was arrested for lewd acts with a child under 12 and soliciting child prostitution. He was transported to the Canadian County Detention Facility, and his bond was set at $200,000.
Deputies said if anyone knows of a possible victim to reach out to the Canadian County Sheriff’s Office.
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