Kenosha, WI – An 18-year-old Texas man has been formally charged in Kenosha County Circuit Court with four felony child sex offenses. Mason Anderson, 18, of Allen, TX, faces three counts of exposing intimate parts to a child and one count of exposing a child to harmful material. His arrest warrant, issued on December 19, 2024, carried a $10,000 bond. After his recent arrest in Texas, Anderson was extradited to Wisconsin, where Court Commissioner William Michel II set his bail at $30,000 cash today.

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Case Background

According to the criminal complaint, the Pleasant Prairie Police Department began investigating Anderson on September 19, 2024, following an Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) tip. A Pleasant Prairie police officer was dispatched to a residence after a mother, “Mary Doe,” reported discovering inappropriate messages between her 9-year-old daughter and an unknown adult male.

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Mary told police she became suspicious after finding her daughter, “Jane Doe,” awake with her iPad late at night. When confronted, the child became visibly flustered, prompting Mary to inspect the device. Upon doing so, she discovered sexually explicit messages and images exchanged between her daughter and an unidentified man. The iPad was subsequently turned over to police for further examination.

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Investigation and Arrest

Detectives reviewed the iPad’s contents, revealing over 4,600 messages exchanged between Anderson and Jane Doe. between August 20 and September 19, 2024. Additionally, 21 FaceTime calls and 53 phone calls were documented. The messages, which escalated in sexual nature, included explicit photos of both parties.

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Authorities traced the suspect’s phone number to Mason Anderson, a high school senior in Allen, Texas. He was 17 at the time of the sexting. A school resource officer at Allen High School provided detectives with a student photo, which was later compared to the explicit images found on the iPad. Based on the evidence, investigators determined that Anderson was the suspect communicating with the child.

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On October 8, 2024, detectives executed a search warrant on Anderson’s phone records, confirming his location in Texas at the time of the exchanges. The content of the messages further corroborated the allegations, including discussions about inappropriate photos and attempts to pressure the victim into explicit activities. Anderson also signaled to the child that he would like to get her pregnant.

Victim Statement and Legal Proceedings

During a forensic interview at the Child Advocacy Center, the young victim disclosed that she met Anderson through the online game Rec Room. Initially engaging in casual conversations, Anderson allegedly began making uncomfortable comments before pressuring her into an online relationship. The child indicated she felt trapped and fearful that Anderson would expose her personal information if she refused his demands.

The victim’s parents confirmed their daughter’s statements, with her mother expressing concern that Anderson had exposed himself during video calls.

Anderson is currently being held in Kenosha County Jail, awaiting further court proceedings. If convicted, he faces 14 years in prison and mandatory sex offender registration.

Authorities urge parents to monitor their children’s online activity and report any suspicious interactions to law enforcement. The case remains under investigation by the Pleasant Prairie Police Department and the Wisconsin ICAC Task Force.