Police: Kansas sex offender targets Oakland County girl online
A registered sex offender from Kansas is facing more charges after police say he targeted an 8- year- old Bloomfield Township child online, convincing her to send him revealing videos of herself.
Clinton McElroy, 48, is held in the Ellis County Jail in Kansas on a $1 million bond, charged with sexual exploitation of a child and aggravated internet trading in child pornography. His next court date is pending.
The Bloomfield Township case against McElroy began to unfold in June as a suspicious circumstance complaint filed by the child’s mother. According to police, the woman said she discovered an inappropriate relationship between her daughter and a male who called himself “John.” “John” had reportedly befriended the little girl while playing the online game Roblox with her, and then persuaded her to send videos of her in various stages of undress in exchange for online currency used in the game.
The iPadusedby the child was examined by Bloomfield Township police investigatorswho found more than 20 videos of her. McElroy was identified through a forensic audit and several search warrants, police said.
Bloomfield Township police immediately contacted the Ellis County Sheriff’s Department to request their assistance in the investigation, and learned McElroy had been arrested for a similar offense in 2017 and was a registered sex offender in Kansas. Results of a search warrant at McElroy’s house Sept. 17 led to new charges in Ellis County and McElroy’s arrest. His next court date is pending.
The Bloomfield Township Police Department is encouraging parents to make it a priority to talk with their children about their online activity and to routinely monitor their children’s online activity.
An investigation into the case continues.