"Entrapment": Michigan Supreme Court case could change child predator sting tactics

[Jim Burton]

https://www.wnem.com/2026/01/28/michiga ... g-tactics/

A case in the Michigan Supreme Court could change a long-used tactic to catch child predators. It’s being argued that the tactic is entrapment — a practice where law enforcement persuades or causes an innocent person to commit a crime.

The case “People of Michigan v. Jayneel Ravindra Jade” stems from a Ghost Task Force investigation, involving the sheriff’s offices in Van Buren and Genesee counties. Lower courts previously upheld Jade’s convictions on several felonies, but his attorney argues police went too far and wants the high court to step in.

Timothy Doman is the defense attorney in the case. According to the case summary, the sheriff’s departments in Van Buren and Genesee counties posted an advertisement on an adult escort website as part of an undercover operation.

“They use photographs of someone who I believe was 19 or maybe even older. And so, people were contacting to arrange a meeting with this decoy. And so, they would usually start texting, start arranging for a meet up, and then the officer would say, well, I’m actually 15, is that ok?” Doman said.