Sex Offender Caught On Camera Attempting To Meet 13-Year-Old Girl At Metro Mall

A registered sex offender from Norman was caught trying to meet up with an underage girl at a metro mall. A local group that tracks child sex predators helped get 52-year-old Timothy Sneed arrested and charged.

Oklahoma County prosecutors charged Sneed this week with one count of soliciting a minor through technology. Investigators had evidence of graphic messages sent between Sneed and a decoy 13-year-old and his on-camera confession.

“So, are you guys the police?” Sneed said.

“I’m not law enforcement. I’m with an organization called Oklahoma Predator Prevention,” a member of the group said.

The group’s video was taken in April when they confronted Sneed at Quail Springs Mall. Court documents showed Sneed was chatting with what he thought was a 13-year-old girl on an app called Whisper.

Little did he know, Sneed was chatting with a member of OPP and planned an in-person meeting at the mall's food court. 

“How old was your friend?” an OPP member asked.

“She is underage but that’s, like I said, all I’m trying to do is chat,” Sneed said.

Sneed's arrest warrant detailed the graphic conversations he had with the decoy. He messaged how "he likes young boys and girls" and asked the decoy for nude photos. In return, he would send photos of himself.

Investigators said the decoy declined to send pictures and Sneed never sent any. 

During the confrontation at the mall, Sneed refused to talk about the messages.

“These messages are incriminating,” an OPP group member said. “You can explain yourself or you can walk away like your guilty.”

The group followed Sneed outside and met up with mall security. The suspect tried to explain why he was at the mall to meet an underage girl. 

“I was telling her to wait until she was legal age,” Sneed said.

“So, you were here to just chat with her, mentor her?” an OPP group member said.

“That’s all,” Sneed said.

“Make sure she didn’t make any stupid decisions?” an OPP group member said.

“Exactly. I’ve been down that road,” Sneed said. “I don’t want anybody else to make that decision.”

Sneed has a previous record in California where he was convicted of possessing child pornography.