Meridian Police have arrested Michael Alexander, 45, of Lake Oswego, Oregon on two counts of lewd and lascivious conduct with a child under the age of sixteen and one count of enticing a child through use of the Internet or other communication device.
Alexander was a sergeant with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in Oregon. He turned himself in to the Canyon County Jail on a $1,000,000 warrant.
Alexander is accused of contacting a fifteen-year-old boy using a cell phone app called “Grinder” and traveling to Idaho in order to have sex with him on two separate occasions in both June and September of last year.
The boy's mother contacted authorities after discovering inappropriate text messages on his phone.
Sheriff Pat Garrett of the Washington County Sheriff's Office learned of the investigation Monday and placed the 45-year-old sergeant on unpaid administrative leave. Alexander's job status remained the same Friday.
The redacted Affidavit of Probable Cause, which includes initials for the teen we have chosen to leave out of this story, shows the teen reportedly identified himself on the Grindr website as an eighteen-year-old.
In the court document, the investigating officer details a number of sexually-explicit communications between Alexander and the boy, as the two communicated via text messaging about meeting for sexual activities.
According to the document, authorities “...confirmed the cellular phone number (the teen) had for Alexander was his personal cell number and that Alexander drives a white Dodge crew cab diesel truck.
“(The teen) was shown a photograph of Alexander’s truck and identified it as Alexander's truck.
“(The teen’s) phone was turned over to the Meridian Police Department and a preliminary forensic search of his phone was conducted for conversations between (the teen) and Alexander. On February 11, 2016, while (the teen) was in Idaho, Alexander sent two pictures via text messaging, one of him in uniform at his office and one of his tattoo on his forearm."
The following is the unedited conversation between Alexander and (the teen's) mother after she found out:
Alexander: "Hey u. How’s my boy"
(Teen’s) mother: "He's grounded. He is not going to have his phone anymore. My 15 year old son will not have a social life for a long time."
Alexander: "If that was true I would believe u. However I saw his license. Nice try."
(Teen’s) mother: “Well, his birthday is (redacted). He even have his license.”
Alexander: "LOL. Ok"
(Teen's) mother: "I hope to god that you are not an adult who is getting himself in trouble with young boys. I don't even know what to say at this point."
Alexander: "Have him call me when he is free please"
(Teen's) mother: "He will not be contacting anyone at this point."
“We (Meridian Police) were alerted to the activity by the victim’s mother, who found inappropriate text messages on his phone,” said Meridian Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea. “We contacted the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, who fully cooperated and assisted us with their investigation.”
During his initial court appearance, Alexander's defense argued that the victim originally said he was an 18-year-old Boise State University student and the bond should be reduced.
However, the judge denied the request after the prosecution stated that the teen looked young and one text exchange between the teen and Alexander occurred while Alexander was in uniform.
The charges of lewd and lascivious conduct with a child under sixteen carries a maximum sentence of life in prison for each count. The charge of enticement carries a maximum sentence of fifteen years in prison.
A preliminary hearing for Alexander is set for March 15th.
Meridian Police were also assisted by the Lake Oswego Police Department and the Canyon County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
