Video Shows Cape May County Man Catching Alleged Sex Predator

As a 21-year-old man who grew up with an iPhone, Robert Davis knows the dangers the Internet can pose, particularly to children. With Davis’s help, the online world is now a little safer for children.

John DeAngelis, 56, of the Villas section of Lower Township, was arrested and charged with one count of second-degree luring on July 26, the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office announced. He was arrested three days after he was caught on video at a Wawa in Lower Township.

The prosecutor’s office said it and local police initiated the investigation two days earlier after being informed of a video that was circulating on social media. Davis, a resident of the Villas, said the video came from him. (See video below).

Inspired by Pop Squad and Justin Payne, who both capture sexual predators online, Davis decided he wanted to try his hand at taking predators off the streets.

“I downloaded the Grindr app and made a fake profile,” Davis said. “These guys messaged me. I told them a couple of times to make it clear that I was 15, and they were OK with that. “I waited for them to say sexual stuff. I never said sexual stuff, and when they started, I ignored it. Eventually, the one guy asked me to meet up.”

That guy was DeAngelis, who has been a registered sex offender since 1986. They arranged a meeting at the local Wawa. When they met up, Davis began filming him. Initially, DeAngelis denied he was told that he was there to meet a 15-year-old.

“He said he was 18,” DeAngelis says on the video.

“He said he was 15 turning 16,” Davis shot back.

DeAngelis asks to see the messages, and Davis said, “You know what the messages said.”

“Oh, I was messaging you?” DeAngelis said. “So you’re portraying someone else?”“I catch predators on the Internet,” Davis said.

Davis told DeAngelis he wouldn’t turn him in to the police.

“I just want to know why you’re doing this,” Davis said.

“Because I want to meet someone young and energetic,” DeAngelis said, also eventually admitting that he thought he was meeting with a 15-year-old.

DeAngelis told Davis this experience taught him “not to do it.”

Davis went home and uploaded the video at about 10 p.m. that night. Although he told DeAngelis he wouldn’t turn him in, he told Patch on Tuesday he did intend to contact police the following morning. However, by the time he woke up, the video was already being shared online and detectives contacted him.

Following the investigation, DeAngelis was arrested. He was processed and lodged in Cape May County Jail, and faces 5-10 years in New Jersey State Prison.

The prosecutor’s office didn’t mention Davis by name in its press release about the investigation. In fact, Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland advises any individuals who have information regarding alleged crimes to contact law enforcement officials and not take matters into their own hands when approaching individuals who may be involved in criminal activity.

Davis said he wants to continue with his project, but wants to make sure he’s not doing anything wrong, and make sure he has the state on his side.

“I’ve been online since I was 13,” Davis said. “I know the Internet very well, and it can be a scary place, especially for children. I just want to show parents, if you give these kids devices, this could happen.”

Sutherland urges anyone who has information regarding this investigation or any criminal activity to contact the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-465- 1135, or the Lower Township Police Department at 609-886-1619.

They can also report it anonymously through the Cape May County Sheriff’s Tip Line at cmcsheriff.net and click on anonymous tip, or through the Cape May County Crime Stoppers, 609-465-2800.

Image via YouTube Video