ANSONIA — A Naugatuck man was arrested Thursday on charges of first-degree possession of child sex abuse material following an investigation that began with a civilian-led sting operation.
Roger Pratt, 36, was taken into custody May 15 on a warrant issued by the Ansonia Police Department.
Pratt was arraigned in Derby Superior Court and held on a court-set bond of $75,000.
According to police, the investigation began after Pratt was accused of attempting to meet an underage girl online.
A group of private citizens who use social media to identify potential child predators engaged Pratt in conversations before confronting him in Ansonia.
While police described the group’s efforts to identify child predators as “commendable,” authorities do not recommend that private citizens confront suspects.
Instead, the Ansonia Police Department advises individuals to report their suspicions to the law enforcement agency where the suspect resides.
All arrestees are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
