Ronnell Stephens-Tun

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**Ronnelle D Stephens-Tun** is a potential predator caught in the Greenville, Ohio sting. Nothing really stands out from his interview other than the fact he was one of many suspects who had both seen the show before and been in the military.

## Biography

On March 25, 2006, twenty-three-year-old Ronnelle Stephens-Tun began chatting with "Destiny," a person who he believed was a thirteen-year-old girl. Stephens-Tun, using the screen name "come\_ride\_and\_chill\_with\_me," confessed that he was single before asking the decoy to be his "little mami." He also said that he would engage in sexual activity with her if she desired it. Stephens-Tun drove two hours from Fort Wayne, Indiana to Darke County, Ohio in order to meet the decoy at a sting house he believed belonged to the girl's grandmother.

Stephens-Tun arrived at the sting house with Mike's Hard Lemonade and was welcomed by Chris Hansen. Stephens-Tun immediately declared that he was aware of what was happening and that he had watched NBC's reports of online child sex predators. He admitted he had served in the military and was sent to Iraq. He responded that there was a 50/50 chance that he would have had sex with the decoy when asked by Chris. He gave a half-apology, half-non-apology, claiming that he felt like he should apologise but also felt like he didn't have to because nothing actually happened. He agreed it was a good thing the crew was there and a real underage girl wasn't. After he is exposed, Stephens-Tun was arrested outside of the home.

## Behind the scenes

Stephens-Tun was charged with one count of Attempted Unlawful Sexual Conduct with a Minor. Stephens-Tun consistently arrived late for all of his court appearances, settlement hearings, and appointments. During his trial, Stephens-Tun and his lawyer used the defence that he was entrapped by NBC. A jury of twelve people took an hour and a half to reach a unanimous verdict that found him guilty of the charge in March of 2007. After failing to show up for his sentencing, Stephens-Tun had to be detained in Indiana and taken to Ohio. The judge determined that probation would most likely not be sufficient for Stephens-Tun as a result of his repeated tardiness from his court dates. He was sentenced to 7 months in jail, probation, pay a fee of $250, restitution for investigation costs of $1477.34, witness expenses of $1012, and was labelled a sexually oriented offender.

Stephens-Tun appealed his sentence in 2008, arguing that there was insufficient evidence to justify his conviction. He further argued that the jury instructions on the entrapment defence were improperly given by the trial court. He asserted that the evidence supported a finding that he just meant to "party" with the decoy rather than the exclusive conclusion that he wanted to meet her for sex. Stephens-Tun's appeal was denied after there was evidence that found that he attempted to have sexual conduct with a minor. In 2011, Stephens-Tun was arrested for failing to register as a sex offender. He was sentenced to 6 months in jail. Stephens-Tun moved to the state of Hawaii and is a registered sex offender there, although according to his record, he now lives in Indiana.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 https://www.leagle.com/decision/inohco20080711302
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 http://perverted-justice.com/?con=come\_ride\_and\_chill\_with\_me
3. ↑ https://www.insideprison.com/state-inmate-search.asp?lnam=Stephans-Tun&fnam=Ronnelle&county=allen&st\_abb=IN&id=2026544205
4. ↑ https://dairystatedegenerates.blogspot.com/2020/11/to-catch-predator-update-greenville.html?m=1
5. ↑ https://sexoffenders.ehawaii.gov/sexoffender/details,X0003126.html