LUMBERTON, Texas — A 36-year-old Lumberton man has turned himself in to Lumberton Police after being accused of attempting to solicit a minor after going to meet a person police say he thought was a 14-year-old boy.
Jeffrey Lynn Marcantel was arrested by police Wednesday morning after turning himself in when a YouTube video started circulating around Southeast Texas.
He has been charged with solicitation of a minor and tampering with physical evidence according to police.
He is being held in the Hardin County Jail on a $150,000 bond for each charge. He'll also be required to have a mental health evaluation within one week.
Marcantel is accused of going to the Lumberton WalMart to meet a person he thought was a 14-year-old boy. He got on a dating app and began texting explicit messages and photos with the boy, before agreeing to meet for sex, according to Chief Danny Sullins. Instead, the adult male who created a YouTube video showed up to "expose" Marcantel. As of Wednesday the video has been viewed more than 65,000 times.
12News is not identifying the Youtuber, because police do not encourage what he did.
"Folks have to be careful, someone's liable to pull a gun out and shoot you over something like this, but I am glad that we got what appears to be someone who was wanting to meet up with a child in our community," Sullins said.
Many were calling for Marcantel's arrest as soon as the video surfaced. Police had to do a full investigation, and work with the district attorney and prosecutors to ensure they had their ducks in a row to make the arrest. Marcantel has been cooperative and remorseful, according to Sullins.
"He came in the station yesterday morning and was upset, not mad but he was upset," Sullins explained.
Marcantel had multiple chances to explain himself to the media, but chose to stay silent the entire three minute walk to his arraignment Wednesday morning.
GET NEWS & WEATHER ALERTS | Download the 12News App to your mobile device
CRIME STOPPERS | Submit a tip @ 833Tips.com
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.
