Former NBC journalist Chris Hansen of “To Catch a Predator” fame delivered a pointed quip in a video published Monday after a man swept up in a child exploitation sting arrived wearing a shirt prominently featuring President Donald Trump.
The sting was carried out by the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office in Louisiana late last year in coordination with Hansen. A video published Monday revealed new details about some of the 15 men arrested in the operation, including 21-year-old Brennan Temple.
Temple, according to Hansen, had sent sexually explicit images and messages to someone he believed to be a 15-year-old girl. After being led into the sting house by a decoy, Temple was soon confronted by Hansen and told to “have a seat.”
Hansen questioned Temple about his intentions with who he believed to be a 15-year-old girl, and while Temple admitted to sending sexually explicit material to the decoy, he denied planning to engage in sexual activity.
Temple’s wardrobe was also noted by Hansen during a voiceover recorded after the incident. On the back of his shirt was a large depiction of Trump wearing a pink suit jacket and pink tie below the acronym “M.I.L.F.,” which was spelled out below as “MAN I LOVE FELONS,” a tongue-in-cheek reference to Trump’s felony convictions on charges of falsifying business records.
“Ironic that Brennan’s shirt says ‘MAN I LOVE FELONS’ because he’s the one who ends up a felon today,” Hansen can be heard in the video narrating.
After being questioned by Hansen, deputies from the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office soon emerged and handcuffed Temple, who later asked the deputies if he could call his mother before being transported to jail. Captain Calvin Bowden obliged, and Temple informed his mother that he had been placed under arrest after getting caught in a child exploitation sting operation.
“Brennan, that’s illegal!” Temple’s mother could be heard saying. “Please tell me you're kidding.”
Bowden interjected in the phone call.
“So mom, this is Captain Bowden with the Livingston Sheriff’s Office, Brennan’s going to be transported to Livingston Parish jail where he’ll be booked on some charges.”
Temple's mother said again, “Please tell me this is a joke.”
“No ma’am, this is real life,” Bowden said.
Temple was charged with indecent behavior with a juvenile and computer-aided solicitation of a minor.