WACO, Texas (KWTX) – Three reported members of the Oklahoma Predators Prevention Group (OPP), an online vigilante group that entraps suspected sex predators, were arrested by the McLennan County Sheriff’s Office after a recent case involving a Central Texas man.
Russell Goodwin, Ryan Koch and George Liebsch were all charged with unlawful restraint-exposure to substantial risk of serious bodily injury, a third-degree felony. The sheriff’s office said two of the members have “extensive criminal histories spanning several years.”
The investigation began in August when the three OPP members traveled from Oklahoma to McLennan County to confront a man who allegedly engaged in an explicit conversation online with whom he believed to be an underage girl.
The “girl” was, in fact, an decoy used by OPP to entrap the suspected sex predator. KWTX first reported this arrest on Oct. 7.
Goodwin’s wife, Crystal Goodwin, says this is something they’ve down many times before. “We see where the conversation goes and then we normally meet up with them and go over the chat logs with them, immediately call police, and hope for a conviction,” she explained.
According to the McLennan County Sheriff’s Office, OPP was founded by Goodwin and follows a trend common among social media vigilante groups that use “decoys” and “catchers” to carry out sting-like operations targeting suspected sex predators.
The confrontations, often referred to as “catches,” are livestreamed on social media with the intent of exposing and humiliating the alleged sex predators.
The livestreams also “generate online content aimed at building a [large audience] and monetization of [content],” the sheriff’s office said.
In August 2025, Oklahoma Watch, a non-partisan investigative journalism group, published an article describing OPP as a vigilante group.
“While OPP claims to protect children, critics say OPP’s aggressive tactics, including targeting disabled individuals, jeopardize criminal cases and lead to false confessions and evidentiary issues without legal accountability,” the sheriff’s office shared in a summary of the Oklahoma Watch report about OPP.
The case involving OPP and the Central Texas man resulted in an investigation that, indeed, confirmed the man targeted by OPP sent sexually explicit photos to the OPP decoy, the sheriff’s office said.
Investigators with the sheriff’s office arrested the suspect.
During their investigation, they also reviewed video of the confrontation between the suspect and the three members of OPP.
“The video revealed a coordinated effort by the three OPP members to control and restrict the man’s movements, including directing him where to stand, corralling him into a secluded area, all the while using aggressive and profane language,” the sheriff’s office said.
“The situation escalated to the point where the man lost consciousness, collapsed and…
I am encouraged by the actions described in this action. Law enforcement has stopped vigilantes in their efforts to harm registrants. Many thanks to Oklahoma Watch, a non-partisan investigative journalism group, that published an article describing OPP as a vigilante group. We can only hope these efforts continue until all registrants and their families are safe from harm.
Sounds like they have banished from multiple social media platforms. Goodwin your group isn’t up to no good, so try a career in Hollywood
WOW! They actually did the right thing I can’t believe it. I’m hyperventilating just reading the headline.
I sure hope LE checks their hard drives and internet activity, because I’m pretty certain what they’ll find. 🤔 You know what I mean? 😒😬🧐
There are a number of FEDERAL CRIMINAL STATUTES that this group has violated. In the event that the U.S. Attorney’s Office has not already pursued federal criminal charges against these ‘people’, they could (and should) file any of the following charges:
Criminal Conspiracy – 18 U.S.C. 371
Interstate Travel to Commit a Crime — 18 U.S.C. § 1952 (Travel Act)
Interstate Stalking or Harassment – 18 U.S.C. § 2261A
Civil Rights Violations – 18 U.S.C. § 241
18 U.S.C. § 113 (and related assault provisions) LIKELY have been violated. Even without touching the victim, under federal law, an assault can occur even when no physical contact happens, as long as the defendants’ conduct intentionally placed the victim in reasonable fear of imminent bodily harm and caused injury as a direct result of that fear or intimidation.
Perhaps Janice may want to provide this information to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in either OKLAHOMA or TEXAS. Either locales would have jurisdiction.
And certainly, the victim in the case may pursue civil remedies, as his rights were violated.
GOOD! F*** those guys!!!
What thse self-appointed, “child savior” groups are doing is basically lynching!
What they call their groups are even cringe, i.e., “dads against predators” and “ride for their lives.”
Beyond pathetic.
Three redneck white dudes from OK going person hunting in TX on specific topics says a lot about society today, sadly. I know they’re not the only ones who’ve done it or gone after people in their own homes, but this is a poor reflection to say the least about people today. Nothing better to do with their lives? SMH
One small plus here is they had the mindset to at least call for medical help though were probably trying to cover their tracks with a story shared among them.
I previously listed a number of Federal statutes that these ‘people’ may have violated (see above).
I did so because the sentencing exposure is far greater in the Federal system than State, as many of us know. These ‘people’ could face up to 50 years or more in federal prison if found guilty on all counts and their sentences run consecutively.
I would urge our organization to contact the U.S. DOJ in either Oklahoma or Texas and demand that their offices file federal criminal charges against these ‘people’.
I would also urge ACSOL to consider undertaking a loud, strong, concerted and unrelenting response to the US DOJ (as well as any other parties of interest) in which our members’ outrage may be expressed as to this ongoing nationwide problem. I am willing to assist in any way possible.
Protections from this type of criminal behavior should come with our Sam’s Club membership, no? We’ve paid our membership dues. Perhaps we should ask Chief Justice Roberts about that.
Threee reasona law enforcement charged these individuals:
LEOs don’t want to be upstaged.
LEOS don’t want competition (and want to take full credit for these stings, not some rando pred hunter).
LEOs don’t want these groups stealing their thunder.
So don’t think for a second law enforcement cares about our safety, rights or life. This is just the alpha wolves fending off interloper wolves.
“If you watch the catch you can see that all 3 of our team members stood a decent space away from him?” 🤔
Woman, you weren’t even there! You don’t know what your hubby and his sidekick were doing off camera. You Oakies are pathetic. You think we were born yesterday?
What a funny story, I hope everyone involved gets time, both sides are in the wrong BUT I cant lie I laughed my ass off the whole time reading this article 🤣