Michael Burks

In 2006, he was a federal agent with Homeland Security in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Burks drove over 40 miles to get to the sting house. When Burks got there, he parked across the street from the sting home. A child sex predator, Erik Pallesen, was entering the sting house just as the volunteer had instructed him to do so. There was another child sex predator, Karampal Singh Nakai , down the street. Three to five minutes after Burks arrived, the sheriffs arrested all three at once.

Burks' was interviewed by Detective Madden. Burks acknowledged that he was a police officer for homeland security and that his father was a police officer during his police interview. He claimed that because God was his witness and he was wearing a Saint Michael's, he declared that he would not have done anything sexual with the girl. Burks' lies were not believed by investigator Madden, who said that if Burks were to say that he was not planning on doing anything with the girl he (Madden) could believe that, but still believed Burks had planned to have intercourse with the girl at some point. Madden argued that Burks was in a position to know better and was aware of the law, and there was no reason to meet (Burks and the girl) at all.

Burks was charged with attempted lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 years of age and attempted oral copulation with a minor under 14 years of age and more than a 10 year age difference between victim and offender, both felonies. His bail was set at $50,000.

Burks was set to go on trial on November 29, 2006. In his testimony, Burks stated that it was wrong for him to talk about sexual matters with someone he thought was 13 years old. He adamantly maintained that he had never intended to engage in sexual activity with the decoy. He said he planned to drop by the sting house and say hello because he was already going to a friend's house that was nearby.

Burks further asserted that he contacted the decoy a third time after parking across the street from the sting house and telling her to come outside so they could speak for a moment before he had to leave. He claimed that s he initially insisted he enter the home, but later she decided to meet him outside. Burks acknowledged that he observed Karampal Singh Nakai approach the residence and that he thought the decoy had planned for him to join them. He said he understood that it was "silly," and he was unsure of his purpose at the sting house. He maintained that he contacted her once more, informing her that he was leaving to visit his friend and that there was another person outside.

In 2009, Burks ended up pleading guilty to a felony count of attempted lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 years of age while the other felony charge was dropped. He was sentenced to one year in county jail, three years of probation, and had to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

In February 2011, Burks filed an appeal claiming that the evidence wasn't strong enough to back up his conviction. He also argued that the evidence was insufficient because he didn't enter the sting house and there was no proof that he had any tools with him that he could have used to molest the decoy. The court upheld his conviction, stating that it was up to the jury to draw the inference and that a logical one would be that he continued his prior, obvious desire to have intercourse with the decoy.

Chris found a couple of numbers associated with Burks, and one picked up and claimed to be Michael. However, Chris could not be certain it was actually Burks, and when Chris introduced himself, the person said on the other end, "I don't know who this is", and swiftly hung up.