I covered a story not too long ago about a very senior Roman Catholic priest using Grindr on the down low. The story was a serious downer for a lot of reasons, not least because some conservative people were trying to conflate being gay with being a sexual threat to adolescents.

I was angry about what the priest had done too, but that’s not why.

In the course of covering the story I came upon information about two Catholic priests who had been using Grindr and ended up getting charged because they met up with or had sex with minors.

Each of them used in his defense that people aren’t supposed to use Grindr until they are 18, and they’re supposed to provide proof of age.

But depending on jurisdiction, that’s not necessarily a legal defense. Like you, I’m curious about why this Ohio cop got indicted. I think you’re right that something must be going on that isn’t being reported.