A 55-year-old Yukon man has been charged in Canadian County District Court with three felony sex crime counts after a mother found sexually explicit text messages from the man on her daughter's cell phone.
Jeff Allen Black is charged with one count of possession of child pornography (21 O.S. § 1021.2) and two counts of soliciting sexual conduct or communication with a minor by use of technology (21 O.S. § 1040.13a).
Reports say the girl's mother found "sexually charged" text messages on her 16-year-old daughter's cell phone and contacted authorities. Forensic analysis of the phone implicated the suspect in sending sexually explicit photographs and text messages to the girl's phone.
The suspect was arrested and booked into the Canadian County Jail, where he is held on $125,000 bond. He is represented by a public defender.
Investigators claim Black sent the girl the sexual text messages and graphic images, and that he manipulated her into sending him nude photos of herself. They say that he then convinced her to begin a sexual relationship with him, saying that if she did so, he would help her develop a relationship with a teen boy on whom she had a crush.
Because the age of consent in Oklahoma is 16, and because the man is not a teacher and the girl is not under his custody or supervision, the sexual relationship between the teen girl and the older man is not illegal, and prosecutors are unable to file second degree rape charges. However, despite her legal ability to consent to sexual intercourse with the man, child pornography is defined by both state and federal law as sexually explicit images of a minor under the age of 18. Because the suspect allegedly induced the girl to send sexually explicit images of herself, and because he allegedly made images of the two involved in sexual activity, prosecutors were able to file child pornography charges against him.
Section 1021.2 of the Oklahoma criminal code states that anyone who procures the participation of a minor in child pornography, or anyone who possess, produces, sells, or distributes child pornography is guilty of a felony. The sentence for child pornography in Oklahoma is up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000. It is a Level II sex offense which requires a person convicted of this crime to register as a sex offender for 25 years.
Soliciting sexual conduct or communication with a minor by use of technology is likewise a Level II sex offense requiring sex offender registration every six months for 25 years. It is a felony sex offense that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
