After the briefing we load up and head over to the sting house where the Chatters and decoys are already busy. They share with me some details of who’s already on their way, and that man is Hunter.

Team: “I mean I got two guys supposedly coming and why one guy’s coming for a boy.”
Team: “Anything surprise you anymore?”
Team: “I mean here we are in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and this is as prevalent as in any other location in the United States of America.”
Team: “So we started our operation roughly around two o’clock, all coming from all over the UP.”

My crew gets set up as the task force gets into position just as Hunter arrives at the sting house. The decoy meets him at the door.

Decoy (Jordan): “Hey.”
Decoy (Jordan): “I’m Jordan.”
Hunter: “Hey Jordan.”
Decoy (Jordan): “Uh here and there I’m a singer so I can’t normally... I’m good right now.”

They make small talk. I come out to talk to Hunter.

Chris: “Hi, why don’t you just have a seat on the couch. What’s happening?”
Hunter: “What’s up.”
Chris: “What are you doing today?”
Hunter: “This is this thing isn’t it?”
Chris: “It is.”
Hunter: “So I’m not actually 18.”
Chris: “How old are you?”
Hunter: “I’m 17.”
Chris: “You’re 17?”
Hunter: “Yes sir.”

In a surprising twist Hunter tells me he’s only 17, so I hold back my film crew.

Chris: “Now we’re not here to embarrass you.”
Hunter: “I know.”
Chris: “And we don’t want to engage in a gray‑area situation with a 17 year old or something you thought was 15. Okay but technically there’s an issue.”
Hunter: “I don’t even have proof that I brought my ID that I have on with me right now.”
Chris: “I mean my tendency is not to really make this a difficult situation for you.”
Hunter: “Yeah.”
Chris: “If you’re telling the truth and you’re really 17, and you’re being straight with me.”
Hunter: “100 percent, okay.”
Chris: “Hard to be queer here, and it’s hard. I’m not gonna go and embarrass you for being gay. I’m Chris Hansen and we do stories on adults who try to meet children online.”
Hunter: “That’s not that.”
Chris: “Okay, that’s what I’m saying. So there’s some people here who want to talk to you.”
Hunter: “Yeah.”
Chris: “If you’re telling me the truth then I’m gonna give you a pass on my show.”
Hunter: “Yeah.”
Chris: “Because you’re 17. But if you’re lying to me now would be the time to tell me.”
Hunter: “No I’m not sir.”
Chris: “Okay, all right. So I find out that’s going to change the course here.”
Hunter: “Yes of course.”

But I had a feeling there was more to Hunter’s story.

Chris: “So again I can’t condone and it has nothing to do with being gay, it’s the age of people.”
Hunter: “I know and it was a mistake I got on there one of my first place and I understand.”
Chris: “And these folks here are going to want to talk to you.”
Chris: “Yeah, there’s no need to rough you up for doing anything weird so go ahead and get over here.”
Officer: “Yeah I have just keep your hands up.”
Hunter: “Yeah okay.”

Task force team members search Hunter for his wallet and after some quick math we realize Hunter had been 18 for some time.

Chris: “Are you in high school?”
Hunter: “Uh yes sir I’m a senior at it.”
Chris: “February 201...”
Chris: “You’re 18.”

And because of his lie it’s time for Hunter to take a seat.

Chris: “Right, uh as of a few months ago. And the reality is that if we weren’t here and a 15 year old was here, he was an 18 year old. You should have known better.”
Hunter: “Not truthfully sir I came here to see if he was really 15 because he um it wouldn’t show me his face um and I thought it was a straight guy pretending.”
Chris: “But you still show up though. I mean given all the risks involved?”
Hunter: “I don’t know truthfully I don’t know sir I’m really sorry.”
Chris: “But you see what the potential damage is of an 18 year old coercing a 15 year old into a sex act they may not be ready to have?”
Hunter: “Yes.”
Chris: “Now in the eyes of the law you’re going to be given an easier go of this because you’re 18 and...”
Hunter: “Yeah.”
Chris: “But you did lie to me.”
Hunter: “I did.”
Chris: “Okay now this isn’t the morality police so we don’t care if people are gay or straight or anything, we don’t care. This is about adults and children.”
Hunter: “Right.”
Chris: “And it was...”
Hunter: “Yeah, okay. That’s it, that’s it. Can we not do this? Can’t just talk to the police?”
Chris: “So I’m gonna let you go do that right now.”
Chris: “All right come on over here.”
Hunter: “Yes sir I don’t know.”
Hunter: “If you want to come over and put cuffs back for me it might be interesting I’m just being detained at this point of course yes.”
Officer: “We’re gonna be taking you somewhere else.”
Hunter: “Okay, where am I going?”
Officer: “Can I have this? Look, where that is.”
Officer: “Yes and before we leave it’s gonna be right here.”
Hunter: “Oh okay, uh and where is that?”
Officer: “Well I don’t know the address right now.”
Hunter: “Uh because I don’t think I have to go anywhere.”
Officer: “No you’re under arrest.”
Hunter: “You can’t... I have to go? Am I sir?”
Officer: “Yes.”

Well he lied to me which is not good. I was going to give him a total pass when he was 17 coming into the 15 year old’s. I do understand and I have empathy for a young gay guy in this community where it’s probably difficult to meet other gay kids, but 18–15 is still illegal.

Hunter was charged with four felonies: accosting a child for immoral purposes, child sexually abusive activity, and two counts of using a computer to commit a crime. Hunter was released on a personal recognizance bond as he awaits his day in court, while Sheriff Greg Zeibert is tough on crime.