Thomas Smeaton

At the time of the sting, Thomas Smeaton lived in Chesaning, Michigan.

On March 16, 2022, Smeaton arrived at the sting house and immediately, and repeatedly, asked if the decoy was home alone. He walked toward the decoy, attempting to grab or touch her before Chris Hansen walked out. Smeaton attempted to run out of the front door but was apprehended by deputies before he could do so. Smeaton, confused and wondering why he was in trouble for attempted to meet a minor for sex, was sat at the kitchen's island table to be questioned by Chris. He claimed that the decoy was nineteen-years-old and was unaware of her claimed age. He then demanded that Chris read the post in front of him to prove that she said she was nineteen. Although he claimed that the decoy was of age, he also claimed that he had no intention of having sex with her and that he never offered her money for sex, instead blaming the decoy by saying "she loves money." Smeaton spent the rest of the interview denying that he knew the decoy's age was fifteen.

Child Sexually Abusive Activity Accosting a Child for Immoral Purposes Using a Computer and Internet to Communicate With Another to Commit a Crime

Smeaton's three felony charges were dropped in a plea agreement. The agreement consisted of him pleading guilty to a lesser misdemeanor charge of soliciting prostitution. He was given a suspended jail sentence with 18 months probation. He is scheduled to end his probation on August 23, 2025. He is not on the Michigan Sex Offender Registry as of January, 2025.