Back in 2000, a Michigan entrepreneur named Ron DeHaas co-founded Covenant Eyes, an anti-porn internet accountability software program that has since grown to more than 2 million users.
The idea, he said at the time, was to protect his teenage stepsons from sexual temptation online. Its effectiveness has been lauded by many, including Speaker of the House Rep. Mike Johnson.
But this past Aug. 13, one of those stepsons was arrested at a meeting spot in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he thought he would find a 14-year-old girl interested in having sex with him.
Instead, Thomas Wideman, 38, encountered officers from the Kent County Sheriff’s Office, including a female detective who had been posing as a teenage girl online.
The Roys Report (TRR) attempted to contact DeHaas for comment but did not receive a response.
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According to a probable cause affidavit, Wideman began communicating with the detective, Sgt. Anna Birkeland, on July 23 through the Hush app when he responded to her post that said “Heyyyy” and featured a smiling horse. Wideman said he was 37, and Birkeland responded that she was 14.
Wideman then texted how he’d like to touch the girl, which included deep kissing, touching her breasts and pushing his hips into her.
On Aug. 10, he suggested a meeting with the teen where they could “kiss a little and see what happens.” Birkeland expressed interest but said it would have to be when her “mom’s at work and sister at a friends.”
Two days later, Wideman texted Birkeland that he may have secured an apartment where they could meet. When she asked what they would do there, Wideman responded, “Taste every inch of you. Caress your body. Respond to your needs and desires. Let you explore what it’s kind (sic) to have someone completely adore you.”
Wideman and Birkeland scheduled a meeting for Aug. 14, although they selected another location near the address Birkeland provided as her home. Wideman told her to wear something “simple and mature.”
“Definitely something that makes you look older, but whatever feels natural,” he texted. “Nothing with high school names or anything for sure.”
Wideman, who told Birkeland he was married, texted that he would bring condoms but said that even if all they did was make out “it’s still a great day.” He also requested a picture of the girl in her bra but did not receive one.
When Wideman arrived at the meeting spot, officers surrounded his vehicle and arrested him before transporting him to the Kent County Correctional Facility.
They also confiscated his cell phone, where officers say they discovered 12 videos featuring child sexual abuse material. All of the videos included prepubescent or young females, and some were violent, in addition to being sexual in nature.
Wideman has been charged with four counts of using computers to commit a crime, three counts of child sexually abusive activity, and one count of accosting children for immoral purposes. Some of the charges include a maximum penalty of life in prison.
Bond for Wideman was set at $300,000. According to court records, DeHaas helped cover the cost and secure Wideman’s pre-trial release.
A status conference in the case is scheduled for Oct. 14 in Michigan’s 17th Circuit Court before Judge Scott A. Noto.
Wideman’s attorney, Joseph Brugnoli, told TRR that neither he nor Wideman would comment for this story.
Ann Marie Shambaugh has reported as a print journalist in multiple states, including currently in Carmel, Indiana.
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5 Responses
But DeHaas secures his bond for release?? Sickening
As a pastor and counselor who helps men recover from porn addiction, I advise people to have guardrails such as accountability software or parental controls to block content… Although guardrails are important in recovery, they are completely ineffective at producing lasting change on their own.
We have so many pastors, leaders, and people in general, in slavery to unwanted sexual behaviors (including abhorrent ones like pedophilia). Exposing the sin is a starting place, placing guardrails is a secondary measure, but the deeper work of understanding our pain and our unmet desires (Our culture invites us to sexualize our pain and desire for connection) comes from much humility, confession, and inner healing that God offers. Let’s hope as more sin is exposed in the church and Christian organizations, more repentance and healing takes place in its wake. I HIGHLY recommend Jay Stringer’s book “Unwanted” for anyone that wants to deep dive into understanding the deeper healing journey.
If I’m reading this correctly, profits from sales of Covenant Eyes software were used to bail an alleged pedophile out of jail. Unfortunately, I am no longer shocked at any of the hypocrisy coming out of evangelicalism.
He was 14 when his father helped create Covenant Eyes. Maybe his father did so because he knew his son was already viewing porn online.
This whole mess reads like something out of “To Catch a Predator”. The online back-and-forth with the decoy on the transcript, the bringing of “supplies”, the specified wardrobe, the dozen CP vids found on his phone – all that’s missing is the “Boom!” reveal moment where the pred meets Chris Hansen in the worst possible way..
Next step is the “status conference” a week from today. Wouldn’t mind a followup on what happened there.