(Stillwater, Okla.) — A sexting charge was dropped by the prosecution against a Texas man after a Stillwater girl with whom he was allegedly communicating was not served to testify at a Dec. 27 preliminary hearing, court records show.
An investigation of Jeffrey Trey Shannon of Mansfield, Texas, who was arrested on May 31 and freed on July 5 on $5,000 bond, began after the girl “showed the video of Jeffrey masturbating to some friends who later told an adult,” Stillwater Police Detective Cody Manuel alleged in an affidavit.
In December of 2015, the Stillwater girl, who was then 14, had begun communicating on the Internet via the application Kik with someone who gave his name as Jeffrey Shannon, said he was 18 but turned 19 while they were talking, and added that he lived in Texas, the affidavit alleged.
The Stillwater girl told Shannon her name and said that she was 15, the affidavit alleged.
After communicating online for a while, Shannon began asking the girl for nude photographs of herself, which she refused, but he made her feel guilty by saying he was sad so she sent him pictures of herself in her underwear, the affidavit alleged.
“Jeffrey sent back a picture of himself in a trench coat holding some swords,” the affidavit alleged.
“Jeffrey said he would have to wait to have sex with her due to her age,” the affidavit alleged.
“Jeffrey continued asking (the girl) for nude photographs,” which she again initially refused, but he made her feel guilty so she gave in and sent him nude photographs of herself, the affidavit alleged.
“Jeffrey sent (the girl) pictures of himself with his penis exposed and also sent a video of himself masturbating and ejaculating,” the affidavit alleged.
“Jeffrey asked (the girl) to start using the Skype application to video chat,” which she agreed to do, the affidavit alleged.
When the girl’s cell phone was searched, the Stillwater detective found various lewd photos of a male, the affidavit alleged.
During a Facebook search, the Stillwater detective located a profile of Shannon, whose pictures were consistent with ones sent to the girl, the affidavit alleged.
“The profile picture on the account was of the male wearing dark clothing and holding a large sword,” the affidavit alleged.
Engaging in sexual communication with a minor by use of technology is a felony punishable on conviction by as much as a 10-year prison term and a $10,000 fine, court records show.
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