John Kennelly was a potential predator confronted in the Washington D.C. edition of To Catch a Predator. Like Michael Seibert, Kennelly was caught by the show twice. However, unlike Seibert, Kennelly was confronted twice in a 24 hour period.

Kennelly, using the screen name “SpecialGuy29”, engages in sex talk with a boy he believed to be fourteen years old and made overtures to become his boyfriend saying he "is so f**king hot". John lies about his age and occupation, saying he was a 29 year old 11th grade prep school teacher. In actuality, at the time of the confrontation, he was 43 and unemployed. In order to show intent, the decoy solicited Kennelly to strip down to his underwear and walk in. When Kennelly replied he didn’t wear them, the decoy replied, “then come in nekid”. John is a "fast mover", taking approximately one hour from contact to declaring a boyfriend relationship to making the decision to drive to the sting house and present himself naked.

John showed up to the sting house with a twelve pack of beer and proceed to do just that. He then awkwardly sat on a stool and waited for his potential boyfriend to come downstairs. When Chris Hansen finally walked in, he was speechless. After giving him a towel to cover himself up, Chris ripped into the potential predator about his chat and the lengths he went through to have sex with an underage boy. After revealing he was caught in a Dateline investigation, John went back to the laundry room, redressed, and drove off. This also revealed that he did, in fact, wear underwear.

Second Encounter

Not 24 hours after this bizarre encounter before Kennelly was at it again online. Going under the name “Shane”, he solicited another 13 year old boy to meet him at McDonalds that he would pick up and have sex with. When he arrived at the McDonalds, Chris immediately confronted him even more aggressively than the day before. He chronicled his folly the day before and his activities leading to the day’s confrontation as well as suggesting he had met many boys on the internet before running into Dateline. Kennelly tried to say a death in his family was the reason for his behavior, which Chris was having none of. He also said he was seeing a psychiatrist and had two appointments the next day, which was impossible for obvious reasons. After walking away with his shoes untied, getting into his truck and leaving, Kennelly would be investigated and subsequently arrested. However, he only received a suspended two year sentence with a three year probationary period. After the encounter with Kennelly, TCaP finally brought in law enforcement for the next sting.

Adapted from journalist Chris Hansen’s popular TO CATCH A PREDATOR series, each episode of PREDATOR I'VE CAUGHT features Chris recalling the most notorious cases and providing a “Where are they now?” update.  Email Chris directly, [email protected]

 

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