AG: Freeport man tried to arrange sex encounter with agent posing as teen boy

A Freeport man known online as “Verse Dad” was arrested Wednesday night on charges of trying to arrange a sexual encounter with who he allegedly thought was a 14-year-old boy but was actually an agent with the state Attorney General’s Office.

Prosecutors say Scott Alan Speer, 54, of Main Street tried to arrange the encounter through social media.

The state’s Child Predator unit said it obtained a search warrant for Speer’s phone and on it found a message thread between Speer and the agent posing as a boy.

Speer is charged with attempted statutory sexual assault, unlawful contact with a minor and related charges.

He was arraigned online by District Judge James Andring early Thursday and taken to Armstrong County Jail after failing to post $25,000 bond.

According to documents filed in the case, police say they arrested Speer when he arrived at a pre-determined meeting place. Investigators said Speer waived his Miranda rights and spoke with agents, during which he admitted to arranging the meeting for the purpose of having sex with a 14-year-old boy.

The Child Predator unit has made 190 arrests since 2017, including 75 last year. Anyone who has information about a child predator can contact the state’s Child Predator Hotline at 1-800-385-1044.