justmetoddray (10/05/08 8:21:31 PM): last weekend i made my boys waffels, pancakes dipping eggs bacon sausage and toast
karyn_isme (10/05/08 8:21:34 PM): what did u have
karyn_isme (10/05/08 8:21:35 PM): wow
karyn_isme (10/05/08 8:21:47 PM): thats alot
justmetoddray (10/05/08 8:22:06 PM): i went out this morninf to big boy all you can eat
justmetoddray (10/05/08 8:22:23 PM): they ate it all
karyn_isme (10/05/08 8:22:31 PM): wow lol
karyn_isme (10/05/08 8:22:40 PM): they live with u?
justmetoddray (10/05/08 8:22:42 PM): there mom never cooks unless it micro
justmetoddray (10/05/08 8:22:52 PM): i wish
justmetoddray (10/05/08 8:23:06 PM): tues thurs and every other weeekend
justmetoddray (10/05/08 8:23:30 PM): 1200 a month in child support
justmetoddray (10/05/08 8:23:53 PM): to be honest
justmetoddray (10/05/08 8:24:01 PM): 300 a week
justmetoddray (10/05/08 8:24:06 PM): sucks
karyn_isme (10/05/08 8:24:15 PM): wow
justmetoddray (10/05/08 8:24:17 PM): so i`m not rick...lol
karyn_isme (10/05/08 8:24:26 PM): wow
justmetoddray (10/05/08 8:24:37 PM): rich
justmetoddray (10/05/08 8:24:52 PM): i do allright though
karyn_isme (10/05/08 8:25:02 PM): looks like it :)
karyn_isme (10/05/08 8:25:18 PM): u wish they lived with u?
justmetoddray (10/05/08 8:26:08 PM): 10,000 later yes
justmetoddray (10/05/08 8:26:19 PM): i fought so hard
justmetoddray (10/05/08 8:26:54 PM): shes about the money\
karyn_isme (10/05/08 8:26:59 PM): :(
justmetoddray (10/05/08 8:27:04 PM): yea
justmetoddray (10/05/08 8:27:12 PM): they cry when they leave

Todd Joseph Ray portrayed himself as educated, well-off, and as having an impressive career. He bragged about his lake, his vehicles, his home, his father's horses, and his job as an engineer and private contractor. He seemed proud of his life. He is also proud of his two young sons. Todd talked about his boys often during the chat, shared pictures of them and attempted to represent himself as a good and loving father. That made me very sad. All I could think of while he was saying these things was… WHY are you hitting on a child, when you want to be a good father? That is messed up - very messed up. I looked at the pictures he was sending to me of his children, and felt very sorry for them, knowing what their father was capable of.

Of course, it's possible that the bragging about his life and his children might just have been his way of grooming a young girl for sex. After all, he did offer to buy the child things, and to do all kinds of fun things with her, such as horseback riding and paint ball. He may have been using his fatherly image to make the child feel safe with him. Whatever his methods for seducing the child, his intentions were clear. Believing that he was chatting with a 14 year old virgin, he very carefully worked his true intentions into the chat, wanting to be her "first", and saying that he would "have to go down for a while" "so it wount hurt as much". He asked to meet, and when my minor persona finally agreed to his request, he drove to Grand Rapids - but only after he went to his kids' football game. A few hours after attending his sons' football game, he traveled to molest a child. Again, that's messed up. Luckily, it was not a real child waiting there for him.

Todd Joseph Ray was arrested during an operation in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Predators in Michigan really should just give it up. With Attorney General Mike Cox, his very capable and professional prosecutors, and the fine law enforcement officers all working to protect the children of Michigan, predators must know by now that attempting to molest a child is going to eventually land them in jail. The morning of Todd Ray's trial, I was waiting to testify when I learned that he pleaded guilty at the last moment. He was sentenced to 18 months to 20 years in prison.

Thanks to KayKar and CookieCrisp for their hard work as the phone verifiers on this case.