Victim testimony and KTS Predator Hunters prompts pledge of review from sheriff; group says state prosecutor declined evidence
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Summary
Multiple public commenters, including members of KTS Predator Hunters and a sexual‑assault survivor, urged Madison County officials to accept and act on evidence gathered by the group; Sheriff Lakin said the sheriff's office will meet the group and noted 155 cases presented to the State's Attorney since 2015.
A series of public comments read and spoken during the Board’s public-comment period focused on private "predator hunter" operations and unmet needs in prosecution and victim support. Speakers included Nick (a musician and team member of KTS), Angel (self-identified as Business Manager and Head Decoy of KTS Predator Hunters, LLC), Whitney (KTS office manager), Kyle Swanson (owner of KTS Predator Hunters, LLC), and Sarah Battig, who identified herself as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse.
KTS members described their work using decoy social-media accounts and said they sometimes forward evidence to law enforcement. "We do not make first contact with anyone... As soon as the other individual talks in sexual nature to our decoy, we alert authorities with our evidence in hopes of charges brought forth," KTS founder Kyle Swanson said. Several speakers said Madison County prosecutors previously declined to accept evidence; Angel cited an email from a county official that raised concerns about admissibility.
Board member Mick Madison asked county law-enforcement leaders to consider working with credible volunteer groups to pursue leads. In response, Sheriff Lakin said the Sheriff’s Office has pursued these cases and cooperates with prosecutors: "Since 2015, the Sheriff's Office, just the Sheriff's Office alone, has presented 155 cases to the Madison County State's Attorney's Office," he said, and added that constitutional guidelines determine how such evidence can be handled and that a meeting with KTS was scheduled.
Survivor Sarah Battig gave a lengthy, emotional account of abuse she said began at age four and described system failures she experienced in reporting. Her remarks framed why private groups and advocates say they pursue exposures: "KTS means that predators now need to be afraid that their lies, manipulation, and absolutely disgusting behavior will no longer be swept under the rug," she said during public comment.
The transcript records that law enforcement and board members intend to meet with KTS; there was no formal county policy change recorded at the meeting. The Board took no formal action on the public comments themselves but asked county offices to follow up where appropriate.