(Woodland, CA) – December 22, 2023 – On December 21, 2023, a Yolo County jury convicted Jayson Proctor, a 45-year-old Sacramento transient, of one count of communicating with a minor with the intent to commit an illegal sex act and one count of arranging a meeting with a minor to engage in lewd and lascivious behavior.
Proctor’s behavior was exposed by a good Samaritan behind an online organization known as “People v. Preds.” This organization utilizes decoy profiles on online dating apps and artificial intelligence to pose as minors and engage with predators who are seeking sexual encounters with children. The individual behind the decoy profile documents these conversations and arranges meetings with these predators. That information is then reported to local law enforcement, who respond to the location of the meeting at the designated time to collect evidence and arrest those communicating with the decoy profile.
While using a popular dating app, Proctor began a conversation with a “People v. Preds” decoy profile on September 6, 2023. During that conversation, the decoy profile was posing as a 15-year-old boy, a fact that was communicated to Proctor multiple times. Their conversation lasted 10 days. During that conversation, Proctor described in explicit detail the various sex acts that he wanted to perform with the minor. The decoy profile and Proctor agreed to meet to have sex on September 16, 2023, at 10:30 p.m. in the parking lot of a Carl’s Junior in West Sacramento. Instead of meeting a minor, Proctor was confronted by West Sacramento Police Officer Mitchell Williams, who arrested Proctor at the scene.
The trial began on December 18, 2023, before the Honorable Tom M. Dyer and concluded yesterday when the jury reached its guilty verdicts. Deputy District Attorney Preston Schaub prosecuted the case. Sentencing is scheduled to occur on January 23, 2024. Proctor faces a maximum sentence of 4 years 8 months in state prison. Proctor remains in custody on bail.
District Attorney Jeff Reisig praised the good Samaritan for their efforts and cooperation with law enforcement. “The internet can be a tool for education and entertainment, but it also harbors real dangers that we must confront. Predators exploit online platforms to target children. Talk openly with your children about online dangers. Monitor their activity, set privacy controls, and know their online world. Report suspicious activity to law enforcement.”
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