By John Dobberstein, Editor
Authorities said Monday they’ve arrested a Broken Arrow man after hidden cameras were discovered in a cabin rented for his child and four minor friends at the Keystone State Park campgrounds in Sand Springs.
The arrest was carried out by the Tulsa field office of U.S. Department of Homeland Security, rangers from the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office.
Philip Sprenger was arrested on charges of lewd or indecent proposals or acts to a child under 16; peeping tom—use of photographic, electronic, or video equipment; possession of child pornography; manufacturing child pornography, and destruction of evidence.
Park rangers contacted HSI for assistance in the investigation and authorities served a search warrant at Sprenger’s residence, seizing numerous electronic devices related to the investigation.
A later review of forensically examined devices revealed that Sprenger was in possession of infant/toddler child sex abuse material (CSAM), and hidden camera footage containing nude images/videos of three minor victims from inside his residence.
Sprenger also recorded himself soliciting a sexual act from a minor victim in his home, even offering to pay them.
Additional charges are possible as the review of the digital evidence continues. Investigators have learned that Sprenger holds a minister’s license, has been on missionary trips and performs handyman work for multiple community members.
Investigators are asking anyone with more information regarding this case or additional witnesses and victims to contact the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office tip line at 918-596-8836 or tips@tcso.org, or the HSI tip line at 1-866-347-2423 or
https://www.ice.gov/webform/ice-tip-form.
All tips will be forwarded to the appropriate investigators.
The HSI tip line was created to collect information that could aid special agents and law enforcement partners with investigations targeting sex offenders, especially child predators. When the agency launched the tip line, staff only received a few thousand calls per year. Today, the tip line averages more than 15,000 calls a month.
HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move.
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