Tahlequah man sentenced after trying to have sex with 14-year-old

TULSA — A man who prosecutors said tried to groom a 14-year-old girl into engaging in sexual conduct with him was sentenced to a 87-month prison term Thursday as part of a plea agreement.

U.S. District Judge John Dowdell accepted the plea deal for Jeremy Jon Batey, 44, of Tahlequah, in a case described by a prosecutor as “very egregious.”

“I hope your time passes quickly and I’m hopeful for you,” Dowdell told Batey after accepting the plea deal.

In his April 5, plea agreement, Batey admitted to using the smartphone app Snapchat sometime in 2017 to send a request to a 14-yearold girl for a nude photo of herself.

According to an affidavit filed following his arrest in January, Batey used Snapchat to contact an undercover detective who had taken over the account of the 14-yearold girl, who had been using the app to communicate with Batey.

Batey had known the girl informally for about two years at the time, according to court records.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Gallant said the case with Batey was a “little atypical” from others involving adults to try to entice minor to have sex due to the fact that Batey knew the girl, rather than it being a “random person.”

Batey had “manipulated” the girl over a period of time, Gallant said.

Court papers filed on Batey’s behalf prior to the sentencing hearing described the defendant as a gainfully employed college graduate who did not abuse alcohol or illegal drugs.

Bately, “aside from the foolish and uncharacteristic behavior underlying the current offense, … has never broken the law,” according to the sentencing memo.

Following the pronouncement of his sentence, Dowdell rejected a request from Gallant that Batey, who has been free on bail, be taken into custody following the hearing.

Dowdell said Batey has been compliant with his bail requirements since his arrest.

Dowdell ordered Batey to report to prison by Aug. 6.

After release from prison, Batey will have to serve 10 years of supervised release and register as a sex offender.