Cyberwatch Criminal Gets Probation
Save Email Print
Posted: 7:36 PM Aug 1, 2008
Cyberwatch Criminal Gets Probation
Brandon Ryan Mason tried to solicit sex from someone he thought was a 14-year-old girl. Instead, it was a 38-year-old woman trying to catch online predators. Now he has received probation for that same reason.
Reporter: Brian Quick
Email Address: brian.quick@wibw.com
Font Size:

A judge departs from sentencing guidelines and places a man charged in an online sting on probation.

The man is accused of trying to solicit sex with a child he believed to be under the age of 16.

22-year-old Brandon Mason was sentenced three years probabtion -- as opposed to five years in prison. He believed he was soliciting a 14-year-old girl named "Angel".

The person he was chatting with was actually 38-year-old Nikki Delaney, who works with U.S. Cyberwatch, a group that tries to catch online predators.

One of the reasons Judge Jan Leuenberger decided to depart was because there was no "real" victim -- just an adult woman posing as a victim.

The judge also said Mason changed his mind and tried to leave before committing any crime -- and before he knew police were closing in.

The judge determined Mason was not a pedophile -- but was however, clinically depressed. Another factor was Mason's family support.

The judge did make clear the court is in no way critical of U.S. Cyberwatch's actions -- but did note that in this case, the "victim" did actively seek out mason online.


Latest Comments

Posted by: Topeka Mom on Aug 3, 2008 at 10:24 PM

These judges don't get it. Either that or they don't care.
[ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: ConcernedCitizen Location: Topeka on Aug 2, 2008 at 06:28 PM

Amazing! He gets probation and someone else who was doing the same thing received 5 years prison time! Where is the justice?
[ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 2, 2008 at 11:15 AM

Unbelievable! No wonder our streets are full of weirdo's, nothing happens when they are caught.
[ Report Abuse ]
wibwlive sponsor
WATCH & WIN: Contest Cam
Newsroom
Photog: Doug Brown
Photog: Eric Ives
Photog: Rick Felsburg
Photog: Jovarie Downing
Photog: Blake Kresge
Reporter: Ryan Smith
13 Sports Team
Skywatch 13 Weather
CBS News livefeed