Oklahoma Vigilantes Arrested After Suspect Collapses and Hits His Head During Predator Sting Gone Wrong
MCLENNAN COUNTY, TEXAS — Three self-styled vigilantes with a group known as Oklahoma Predator Prevention (OPP) have been arrested after a confrontation with an alleged predator turned violent, leaving the man unconscious and seriously injured.
Authorities say Russell Goodwin, Ryan Koch, and George Liebsch — all affiliated with OPP — face charges of unlawful restraint with exposure to substantial risk of serious bodily injury. The group, which claims to expose online child predators, was accused of using aggressive tactics and recording the encounter for social media.
Confrontation Filmed in Texas Trailer Park Ends in Collapse
According to the McLennan County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred in August 2025 when the trio traveled from Oklahoma to McLennan County, Texas, to confront a man who had allegedly been sending explicit messages to someone he believed was a minor.
In reality, the “minor” was a decoy account run by OPP.
Video footage obtained by KWTX News shows the men surrounding the suspect at a trailer park, yelling at him, and ordering him where to stand. Investigators said they “corralled him into a secluded area” and used “aggressive and profane language” throughout the confrontation.
“Dude, I’m trying to give you an opportunity here to talk to us and not the police, right?” one of the vigilantes, believed to be Goodwin, said on video.
The suspect appeared frightened as the group berated him. Moments later, the confrontation escalated — the man collapsed against a white pickup truck, then fell to the ground, hitting his head on the vehicle’s underside.
“Call the cops,” one of the men can be heard saying in the footage — which deputies noted happened only after the man was unconscious.
Sheriff: “These Vigilante Actions Are Extremely Dangerous”
The sheriff’s office later confirmed that the man targeted by the group had indeed sent sexually explicit material to the decoy account and was later arrested on separate charges.
However, authorities strongly condemned the vigilante-style confrontation, saying OPP’s actions put lives at risk and interfered with official investigations.
“While we are committed to protecting children from online exploitation, these kinds of vigilante operations are dangerous and unlawful,” the McLennan County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
“Confronting suspected predators without law enforcement support can result in escalation, tainted evidence, and serious harm to everyone involved.”
Pattern of Public “Exposure” and Monetization
Investigators described OPP as part of a growing social media trend in which groups pose as minors to lure potential predators and then livestream confrontations to “expose or humiliate” the suspects.
The sheriff’s office noted that such videos are often monetized through views and donations, turning vigilantism into an online spectacle.
A past investigative report also alleged that OPP has targeted individuals with intellectual disabilities and sometimes coerced false confessions, creating serious evidentiary problems in legitimate criminal cases.
Charges and Next Steps
Goodwin — identified as the founder of Oklahoma Predator Prevention — along with Koch and Liebsch, was arrested and booked into the McLennan County Jail. Each faces felony charges for unlawful restraint.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are reviewing OPP’s other recorded “stings” for potential criminal conduct.