Rhett Warner

At the time of the sting, Warner lived in or near Saginaw, Michigan.

Upon arriving to the sting house, Warner met the decoy stepfather outside before going inside to meet the decoy girl. When Chris Hansen came out, Warner said "Chris Hansen" and tried to escape, but he was stopped by the decoy stepfather. Due to the cameras present, Warner refused to be interviewed and begged deputies to immediately arrest him and take him to jail. When told that cameras were everywhere and inescapable, Warner pulled up the hood on his sweater and became visibly distraught. He continued to beg deputies to arrest him, citing his relationship status as newly single and a father for why he did not want to be embarrassed on camera. Warner refused to sit at the table and talk with Chris. Instead, he stood in a doorway between the kitchen and utility room with his back to Chris. Deputies tried to calm Warner down, at one point asking him, "You were thinking with your dick, right?" Warner responded with, "Yes."

When Chris began questioning, Warner repeatedly talked over him and denied any wrongdoing. Warner claimed that the decoy texted him first. He also claimed that he did not want to go to the sting house, despite going to the sting house. Warner refused to speak any further to Chris, eventually telling him, "Leave me alone, God damn."

Child Sexually Abusive Activity Accosting a Child for Immoral Purposes Using a Computer to Commit a Crime

As part of a plea agreement, Warner pled guilty to Child Sexually Abusive Activity in return for the other two charges being dropped. He was sentenced to 60 days of jail, with credit for 7 days and which could be completed in a series of weekend stints, and 60 months of probation. His probation is expected to be completed on October 28th, 2029. Warner was required to register as a Tier 2 sex offender.

Warner has a tattoo of Vegeta on his upper left arm.