Earlier this week, I reported Shiawassee County Sheriff Doug Chapman told me that three illegal migrants had been arrested for attempting to solicit sex from children.
Sheriff Chapman said the three men were unknowingly talking to detectives.
The Sheriff was not able to give me the names of the individuals who were arrested but did say they were all illegal migrants.
I relied on Sheriff Chapman for the information in the story.
Now, the Sheriff is telling the Detroit News a different story.
Sheriff Chapman told the Detroit News, "It was misinformation.”
Sheriff Chapman also told the Detroit News:
“Chapman eventually told The News he had received inaccurate details from the Shiawassee Human Oppression Team, a group that's led by the sheriff's office and that handled the arrests. The sheriff acknowledged that only one of the three individuals he had referenced was definitely in the country without legal authorization.
In the cases of the other two individuals, the sheriff's office was uncertain about whether they were in the United States legally, Chapman admitted.” "I don't have proof of that," Chapman said at one point. "They're suspected."
It also appears that in at least two of the three cases, there were no actual minors involved. Instead, the arrests were based on sting operations where law enforcement officials posed as children online.
I can not independently verify the information in the Detroit News, though I appreciate that Mauger was able to find more details.
I am all about transparency. In my original article, I reported what Sheriff Chapman told me and cited him numerous times. My goal is always to get accurate information to all of you.
