Kenneth Lewis Barrett, the 71-year-old mayor of Winston, Oregon, was arrested Sunday, March 19, after he was accused of setting up a meeting to have sex with a 14-year-old girl. The 14-year-old girl in question was actually an undercover police officer.
Barrett, 71, who began his first term as mayor back in January, spent two weeks exchanging Facebook messages with an Oregon police decoy.
According to police, Barrett was arrested as showed up to a meeting spot in Myrtle Creek, Oregon.
Via Oregon Live:
Barrett mentions in the online messages several times that he’s mayor of Winston, acknowledges the decoy is 14 and describes himself as “71 with the mind of a 17 year old and the energy of a 12 year old,” according to a probable cause affidavit.
Barrett faces allegations of second-degree online sexual corruption and unlawful possession of a firearm after investigators said he admitted to having a 9mm handgun without a concealed weapons permit in his pickup.
According to the official affidavit, Facebook messages between Barrett and the Myrtle Creek officer posing as the 14-year-old girl began March 5 when he commented “hot” on a photo on the police-created page.
Furthermore, Barrett expressed excitement that he thought he was meeting with was a virgin and encouraged her to send him her address because “I am a single old bad boy.” He also offered to buy pizza and drinks.
Barrett was arrested with three other men in an online sting that began back in February 2017. Myrtle Creek Police Chief Don Brown said the other three in custody range in age from 18 to 51.
Winston City Manager Mark Bauer said Barrett’s status as the town’s mayor remains up in the air. Furthermore, Bauer said he has not spoken to Barrett since his arrest.
What Happened?
A newly elected Oregon mayor, 71-year-old Kenneth Barrett, was arrested after he tried to arrange a sexual encounter with a 14-year-old girl who turned out to be a police decoy for a sting operation.
Who is Kenneth Barrett?
Barrett, 71, is the mayor of Winston, Oregon, who was arrested for second-degree online sexual corruption and unlawful possession of a firearm.
About Winston, Oregon
Winston, Oregon has a population of about 5,400 people. It is located in Douglas County. It’s most famous for its Wildlife Safari, a 600-acre drive-through animal park.
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