FREEPORT — The Stephenson County Sheriff Office was contacted by the World Wide Predators Hunters in regards to possible predator, and an arrest was made August 11, according to the Stephenson County Sheriff’s Office.

World Wide Predator Hunts is a non-profit in Edgerton that began conducting sting operations three years ago. Individuals in the organization pose as teenagers to catfish potential online predators. The Stephenson County Sheriff Office has worked with other similar agencies before and it was a smooth transition.

On July 27, a female deputy from the Stephenson County Sheriff Office took over communications between Nicholas R. Kulas of Pearl City and WWPH members that were posing as a 14-year-old girl. On August 11, a meeting was arranged between Kulas and the deputy to meet in the Read Park in Freeport at a gazebo. Kulas believed he was speaking to a 14-year-old girl and drove approximately 15 minutes to the meeting site where he was taken into custody without incident.

Kulas is charged with two felonies of traveling to a meet a child and unlawful grooming, as well as a misdemeanor of sexual exploitation of a child. 

Kulas is currently residing in the Stepheson County Jail and his bond was set at $100,000.00.