In this photo illustration logo of 'Youtube' is displayed on a computer screen in Ankara, Turkiye on December 11, 2023. (Photo by Didem Mente/Anadolu via Getty Images)
A former YouTube personality has been arrested in connection with a 2021 child predator sting operation after statements he made in a recent documentary prompted prosecutors to reopen the case.
Big picture view:
The Kern County District Attorney’s Office in Bakersfield, CA says new statements made by Bryant Turhanemmerson Moreland, better known online as EDP445, in the documentary "The Sick Mind of EDP445" led prosecutors to file criminal charges against him.
The backstory:
The charges stem from an April 2021 incident involving Moreland and a person believed to be a child younger than 14. Prosecutors said they reviewed the case in 2021 and again in 2022 but were unable to pursue charges because of a lack of cooperation from the reporting parties.
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What they're saying:
In the documentary, which features interviews with journalist Chris Hansen, best known for hosting the television series "To Catch a Predator," Moreland openly discussed his involvement in the 2021 sting operation. Prosecutors said his statements led investigators to reopen the investigation.
What we know:
Prosecutors say they were then able to obtain enough evidence to file four felony charges against Moreland: attempted lewd acts upon a child, meeting a minor for lewd purposes, contacting a minor with intent to commit a sexual offense, and distributing or showing pornography to a minor.
Moreland gained popularity on YouTube beginning in 2010 through his commentary on the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles, becoming known for his profanity-laced reactions to the team’s games.
What's next:
On Wednesday, authorities located and arrested Moreland in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is expected to be extradited to Kern County, California, to face the charges.
The Source: This story was written with information provided by the Kern County District Attorney’s Office and statements taken from the documentary "The Sick Mind of EDP445." This story was reported from Orlando.