Accused in ‘Predator Poachers’ video was employee of WPAFB child center

One of two men arrested on felony charges accusing them of trying to meet underage teens for sex was a civilian employee of the Wright Field South Child Development Center.

Matthew D. West, arrested March 3 by Englewood police, has been removed from his position at the Child Development Center until the investigation is complete and a determination on his employment status can be made by base officials, Col. Thomas Sherman, 88th Air Base Wing commander, said in a statement released Thursday afternoon.

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The alleged incident occurred off-base and did not involve any Wright-Patterson personnel or family members, Sherman said in the statement. The Air Force Office of Special Investigations is working with local law enforcement in their investigation.

“The safety and security of our families, especially our children, is foremost in our responsibilities and we are taking this matter seriously,” the colonel said.

“Wright-Patterson leadership is contacting all parents with children at that facility to let them know while there is no connection between the allegations and the installation, we are here to support them and provide any desired resources,” Sherman noted.

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West and Kenneth R. Curtis, both of Brookville, are accused of attempting to meet underage teens for sex after videos of encounters were recorded and posted to YouTube by an apparent vigilante group.

Police were notified of a YouTube video on March 2 that shows Curtis arriving at a location in Brookville and attempting to meet for sex with a person he thought was teenager, police said this week.

The same day, police discovered a second YouTube video that showed West arriving in Englewood and also attempting to meet for sex with a person who he thought was a 15-year-old, police said

According to a statement of facts, West was recorded on camera at an Englewood address on Feb. 17. Curtis was arrested within an hour of police learning about the video.

West was arrested March 3, approximately 24 hours after authorities learned of the second video, police said.

Court records indicate that during an interview with an Englewood police detective, West admitted it was his “intention to meet a 15-year-old male in order to engage in sexual acts.”