Online Vigilante's Sting Leads to Charges Against Bay City Healthcare Worker

Online Vigilante Exposes Man Attempting to Solicit Underage Girl for Sex

In a case that highlights the dangers of online interactions, a man from Bay City, Michigan, is now facing serious charges after attempting to solicit what he believed was an underage girl for sexual purposes. The incident came to light thanks to the efforts of an online vigilante who uses a decoy social media account to identify and expose predators.

The woman, a 31-year-old resident of Washtenaw County, claims she works to protect minors by creating a fake profile on social media, posing as a child. She reached out to Bay City police in May after being contacted by Michael M. Leppek, a 34-year-old man who had recently messaged her through the app MeetMe. MeetMe is designed to help users find others nearby who share similar interests, but it prohibits users under the age of 18.

Instead of backing down, Leppek and the decoy moved their conversation to another platform called TextMe. The woman provided copies of their text exchanges to the police, which revealed a disturbing pattern of behavior. The decoy claimed to be 14 years old and a virgin, while Leppek identified himself as 34. He allegedly asked if she wanted to gain experience, mentioning that they "can't do anything 'fun' for about a year" because "16 is the age of consent."

Throughout their conversations, Leppek inquired about the decoy's family and home life. He invited her to visit his house and spend a few nights with him. They even discussed plans for him to pick her up and take her to his residence in Bay City for a sexual encounter. He reportedly expressed a desire to take her virginity on her bed, according to court records.

One message from Leppek’s phone number read: “This is super risky for me, but you seem like a good person, and if you’re gonna hang out with someone older, I at least know I’ll treat you well.” He added, “I can only imagine if you tried the wrong dude.”

The pair communicated over several days, with Leppek sharing details about his job. He told the decoy he was a Certified Nursing Assistant at McLaren Bay Region Hospital and sent her a selfie of himself in scrubs while at work. He also allegedly asked her to send him a photo of herself showering.

Leppek eventually planned to meet the decoy at a McDonald’s in Jackson on May 16, prompting the woman to alert the police. On May 21, officers interviewed Leppek at McLaren Bay Region Hospital. According to reports, he admitted that his actions were wrong but claimed he was just being foolish and would not repeat them.

“I was just doing something stupid and I’m not going to do anything,” he said. “I won’t do it again, I promise.” He went on to say he knew the conversations were inappropriate but liked the attention from the decoy. He claimed he would "like to believe" he wouldn’t have met up with her.

Leppek handed over his phone and passcode to the police, who confirmed that the messages matched those provided by the woman. However, it was later revealed that Leppek was not actually a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) but rather a patient care associate, a position that does not require a license. This detail was confirmed by Dave Jones, marketing manager and media specialist for McLaren.

Upon learning of the allegations against Leppek, McLaren took swift action. They immediately suspended him and later terminated his employment. Jones stated that the allegations "are disturbing and do not reflect the values or standards to which we hold our staff."

On June 13, prosecutors charged Leppek with two felony counts: one for accosting a minor for immoral purposes and another for using a computer to commit a crime. Both charges carry potential sentences of four and seven years in prison, respectively.

Leppek voluntarily appeared for arraignment in Bay County District Court on June 16. He is scheduled to appear for a preliminary examination on July 31. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and the role that individuals can play in protecting vulnerable members of society.