Thomas Coffen

Coffen's Fort Myers mugshot

*"I'm looking for work and stuff. Uhhh, I do blacktop sealing."*

> - responding to Chris Hansen's question regarding his business in the house.
>
>

**Thomas William Coffen** was featured on the Fort Myers, Florida edition of To Catch a Predator. He is often referred to as the "cowboy predator" due to his ridiculous outfit. He is also known for his ridiculous claim a computer virus caused his computer to send photographs of his genitals to the decoy.

## Biography

Thomas Coffen, a 31-year-old man, started communication on the internet with a Perverted Justice decoy who was posing as a fourteen-year-old girl. Within 10 minutes, he made it very clear that he wanted a girlfriend, despite the age gap. When the decoy asked how old was younger he dated, Thomas claims fourteen. Thomas talks to the girl about his penis and the other sexual things he wants to do. Thomas also sends the girl of picture of his penis. Throughout the chat, Thomas would randomly say "BUZZ!!!" which annoys the decoy, but that didn't stop Thomas from continuing to say it. Eventually, the two set up a day to meet up.

## Sting and Arrest

Thomas arrives at the sting house, carrying multiple cans of alcohol. When he enters the house, the decoy tells him to have a seat near the table. Chris Hansen enters and asks what Thomas is doing here. Thomas makes up a lie, claiming he is looking for work, more specifically, blacktop sealing. This lie is short lives, as Coffen caves and tells Chris the truth, saying he lied because he "don't like being in trouble and all." Thomas acknowledges it was inappropriate when Chris questions him about why he believed it was okay to send a picture of his penis to a young child. Chris then reads from Thomas' conversation log, revealing that he preferred younger girls to older ones. Thomas asserts that he meant people between the ages of nineteen and twenty. Thomas alleges that a virus has corrupted and infected his computer. Chris hilariously asks if his chat magically typed itself like a player piano.

According to Thomas, he had a cousin who would enter his computer and participate in chats under his conversation. Chris could detect his deceptions. Thomas acknowledged typing all of the sexually explicit chat but insisted he wouldn't have done anything sexual. When asked if he brought condoms, Thomas pulls them out of his vest pocket, claiming it was there because he didn't want the condom to get crushed in his wallet or pants pockets. Chris questioned whether he always kept condoms in his vest pocket for "easy access." When probed on whether or not he has any children, Coffen reveals that he has three kids, and swears on their lives that he was not going to molest the decoy. Coffen leaves once the cameras come out, and he is arrested outside. Due to the large number of predators showing up at very close times to one another, Coffen was placed in the backseat of the police car which also had Michael Wilusz in the backseat.

## Aftermath

In October 2006, Thomas was found guilty of three felonies: Use of the Internet to solicit/attempt to solicit etc. a child for sex/lewdness, sending minor harmful info, and attempted Lewd or Lascivious battery with a victim 12-15 years old. On October 13, 2006, he was sentenced to 29 months and 3 days in prison with 172 days credited for time served, three years of probation, lifetime registration as a sex offender, and pay court costs. Thomas has deteriorated over time, being arrested for driving with a suspended license in 2016 and for marijuana possession in 2017. Thomas later moved out of Florida to Lebanon, Pennsylvania, and is registered as a sex offender there. According to his sex offender page, he is currently incarcerated for unknown reasons.

## Trivia

* Thomas is one of two predators to wear a cowboy hat to the sting, the other being Vincent Ambrosio.

## References

1. ↑ https://offender.fdle.state.fl.us/offender/sops/flyer.jsf?personId=49128&x=412fd5f7-f989-4c8b-a0bd-41758a5e3f54
2. ↑ http://www.perverted-justice.com/?con=thomascoffen
3. ↑ https://dairystatedegenerates.blogspot.com/2020/12/to-catch-predator-update-fort-myers.html
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 https://www.pameganslaw.state.pa.us/OffenderDetails/Offenses/45947