Lawton man arrested for lewd acts with a minor

LAWTON, Okla. (KFOR) - According to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, a Lawton man has been arrested in connection to a lewd acts investigation.

On August 9, 2024, the OSBI's Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit received information from the Alleghany County Sheriff's Office in Virginia about a possible lewd acts case.

Officials say the suspect was identified as 57-year-old James Janis from Lawton. He allegedly had been messaging someone who he believed was a minor from Virginia. OSBI special agents learned during the investigation that Janis had been having inappropriate conversations with the child and talked about trying to message other minors.

On August 15, the OSBI ICAC Unit, Comanche County Sheriff's Office and Alleghany County Sheriff's Office searched Janis' home. Agents also interviewed Janis and he admitted to the inappropriate messages.

The OSBI says Janis was arrested and booked into the Comanche County Jail on charges of Lewd or Indecent Proposals or Acts to a Child. The investigation is ongoing.