Tacoma man sentenced for using social media to sexually coerce a minor
A Tacoma man has been sentenced to just under 14 years in federal prison for using social media to coerce a minor into sending him sexually explicit materials, including 'sadistic and masochistic' conduct.
According to court documents, 22-year-old Brandon Kuper used Discord and Snapchat to attempt to develop a relationship with the minor.
Kuper coerced the victim into producing and sending him sexually explicit photos and videos, including 'sadistic and masochistic conduct.' In several instances, Kuper asked victims to cut his social media username 'Mergzs' into their skin, and to photograph it and send it to him.
When the victim denied some of Kuper's requests, he threatened to harm the victim and victim's family if his demands were not met, according to court documents.
Investigators also found revenge porn that Kuper created when at least one other victim did not comply with his demands. He posted the 'revenge porn' that he created, prosecutors said.
He was arrested in November of 2022 and plead guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor two years later.
When he is released from his 13-year sentence, he will be on parole for 10 years.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Ex-Webb City school worker makes court appearance for alleged child enticement
JOPLIN, Mo. — A former Webb City School Employee accused of seeking out a teenage girl for sex makes his first appearance in court. Logan Duncan, 25, appeared before Judge Nicole Carlton this morning in a Jasper County courtroom on one count of enticement of a child. Duncan waived his formal arraignment and pleaded not guilty. He was arrested May 2 after a sting operation by the online vigilante group, Bikers Against Predators. The group told investigators Duncan reached out to them through the Grindr app, communicating with what he thought was a 13-year-old girl. Members say Duncan sent nude pictures to the account and even spoke on the phone with one of the female members of their team. Sting with alleged predator leads to arrest of Webb City school employee They say he then arranged to meet with the decoy outside Webb City Junior High School. The school district placed Duncan on administrative leave the same day of the confrontation and later fired him. He has since been fired from his position as a custodian. Duncan is free on a $150,000 bond. 'We knew the severity of this case, that he is working in the schools and he is a part of the school system, that this video needed to be out,' said 'Boots', Bikers Against Predators president. 'Boots', the alias he goes by, runs the non-profit organization Bikers Against Predators, which helps take down suspected online child predators. Through popular apps, like Snapchat, Instagram, and dating apps like Grindr, the group sets up decoy profiles with the location and waits for individuals to contact them. 'We had an individual reach out to one of our accounts, and we told them that we were 13 years old, and he continued that conversation, wanting a phone call with her to see if she was real,' said 'Boots'. That led to a meet up with Logan Duncan, 25, who Boots says wanted to meet at his job, the Webb City Junior High. 'At that time, we got to the school, we waited. We had our live decoy go out, stand outside the school. He came outside from the school and met with her in person,' said 'Boots'. Also in the video, Duncan acknowledges he knew he was chatting with a 13-year-old. 'Making them feel comfortable and making them feel that, you know, this is not that serious. And downplaying it sometimes gets them to open up where I think these guys feel it's their last resort,' said 'Boots'. While they disagree with the moniker of vigilante, the team does employ some of the same techniques as law enforcement. Duncan is free on a $150,000 bond. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
National Crime Prevention Council Urges McDonald's to End Snapchat Partnership Over Child Safety Concerns
Washington, D.C., June 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) is calling on McDonald's to immediately end a newly created promotional partnership with a dangerous social media platform. Snapchat, and its parent company Snap, Inc., are under federal and state investigation for their role in facilitating the sale of deadly drugs, including fentanyl. In a letter to McDonald's CEO, the nation's leading crime watchdog pointed to Snapchat's inherent design features that make it a preferred platform for drug dealers and predators. 'Snapchat is the platform of choice for drug dealers, and it is unsafe for users of any age,' said NCPC Executive Director Paul DelPonte. 'McDonald's should not be promoting a service that endangers the very children it has long supported through Ronald McDonald House Charities and community safety events.' As part of the partnership, McDonald's is offering one month of free access to Snapchat+, the platform's supposed premium version. The plus version includes even more dangerous features, such as enhanced location tracking and expanded messaging capabilities, tools that NCPC says make it easier for predators and criminals to access partnership contradicts McDonald's decades-long commitment to protecting children and fostering safe communities and aligns it with a platform under federal scrutiny for contributing to the fentanyl crisis and child exploitation. McDonald's franchises have a long history of including the organization's well-known mascot, McGruff the Crime Dog®, at events such as National Night Out and Halloween safety programs 'This is not about cancel culture,' the letter states. 'This is about public safety, corporate responsibility, and protecting children.' NCPC is urging McDonald's to immediately reconsider the partnership and expressed willingness to work with the company to identify safer, more responsible ways to support children and families. CONTACT: Tatiana Peralta National Crime Prevention Council 202-919-5544 tperalta@ in to access your portfolio
New York Post
19 hours ago
- New York Post
Missing Navy sailor Angelina Resendiz's body found in woods after she disappeared from barracks; sailor detained in Virginia
Advertisement Navy officials on Thursday discovered a body in a wooded area of Norfolk, Virginia, and the local medical examiner has confirmed it to be missing Navy Seaman Angelina Resendiz. Resendiz, 21, was last seen on May 29 at her barracks in Miller Hall on Naval Station Norfolk around 10 p.m., according to Virginia State Police and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS). 'A Navy Sailor has been placed in pretrial confinement in connection with the death of Seaman Resendiz. Charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice are pending,' NCIS said in a Thursday statement. NCIS said it has 'worked tirelessly in close coordination with Navy leadership, the Norfolk Police Department, Virginia State Police, Virginia Search and Rescue, and numerous other federal and local law enforcement partners to pursue all leads since learning of Seaman Resendiz' disappearance.' Advertisement 3 Angelina Petra Resendiz was last seen in her barracks on May 29. Gofundme 'NCIS remains committed to uncovering the facts surrounding the tragic death of Seaman Resendiz to ensure accountability and justice,' the agency said. Police previously described Resendiz's disappearance as critical, saying her health was at risk. Resendiz's mother, Esmeralda Castle, who lives in Resendiz's hometown in Texas, described her daughter as 'loving' and 'kind' in an interview with WVEC. Advertisement 3 'A Navy Sailor has been placed in pretrial confinement in connection with the death of Seaman Resendiz. Charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice are pending,' NCIS said. Gofundme She worked as a culinary specialist for the Navy, Castle said. Castle added that Resendiz had not responded to calls or texts from her family, which was out of character. 'Her and my sister have a 400-day streak on Snapchat. Every single day she talks to somebody. She talks to family, or she will talk to a friend,' Castle told WVEC. Advertisement 3 Police previously described Resendiz's disappearance as critical, saying her health was at risk. NCIS The 21-year-old did not drive or have a vehicle, and she was reported missing after she failed to show up for work, according to WVEC. 'She just stopped existing Thursday. She's spent no money, made no disappeared,' Castle told the outlet. 'It's very hard to tell people that she's missing.' NCIS said that it will not be releasing further information at this time while the investigation remains ongoing 'out of respect for the investigative process.'
