KCTV 5Police: Man repeatedly drove to Indy to solicit boys for sex

Prosecutors said a Kansas City man repeatedly targeted young boys for sex by offering them marijuana or cash.

Norman E. Davis, 52, who lives in the Northland, faces three felony counts in Jackson County. He is accused of attempting to lure boys ranging from 12 to 14 years old for sex.

Davis was charged with attempted forcible sodomy, attempted second-degree sodomy and sexual misconduct involving a child.

According to court documents, Davis has been driving to Independence for months seeking sex. At least six children say Davis sought them out.

Prosecutors are seeking a $250,000 cash bond.

Independence police defended their handling of the case Wednesday. They became aware of reports involving a predator targeting children in mid-December.

After the fourth report, police issued an alert and some wonder why it wasn't sent out sooner.

"It would have been nice if it had been more out in the open," neighbor Scott Mallinson said.

Tom Gentry, spokesman for the police department, said telling the public sooner would have harmed the investigation because the predator would have fled if he had known police were seeking him.

However, police did not notify the public until this weekend following the most recent incident. Davis was quickly taken into custody after the public's assistance was sought.

Police say they kept tight lipped at first because they were running surveillance on the guy, who had been coming to the same few blocks again and again.

If word got out, they feared he would change his target area and they would lose their chance to nab him.

The predator allegedly had been targeting children in an eight-block area near Lee's Summit and Truman roads.

But there were six boys altogether who came to police in the past two months to describe 10 incidents when Davis tried to get them in the car to exchange sex for cash, often beginning the conversation with a discussion about pot smoking.

Zach McKenzie said a man similar to Davis' description and driving a red Kia approached him last month but didn't mention sex. Instead, McKenzie said the man asked about obtaining "weed."

"I said, 'I don't do weed. Leave me alone. Get out of here,'" McKenzie said.

He told a neighbor, but didn't tell police. After hearing from another kid about a similar situation, the two drove around Tuesday looking for the suspect.

According to court records, a parent of a 14-year-old boy went to police headquarters Dec. 11 to report that a man had tried to get the boy into his vehicle, promising "a smoke" and "fooling around."

On Jan. 11, police were sent to Pioneer Ridge Middle School where a 14-year-old student said he was walking on T.C. Lea Road. He said a man lured him into his car and promised to take him to a friend's house. Instead, the man took him to a desolate area where he exposed himself and grabbed at the boy's genitalia, according to court records.

The victim fought back and convinced Davis to drop him off unharmed in exchange for him not telling authorities, according to court documents.

Another parent contacted police at the end of January about an incident that happened in September or October 2011 involving her 12-year-old son. The man offered her son $100 but he fled. The boy said the man sought him out again a month later, according to court documents.

A 17-year-old told police on Saturday that a man drove up and sought sexual favors while he was walking near Lee's Summit Road. The teen said he ran to a nearby laundry and called for a friend to come and get him, according to court documents.

An 18-year-old said he was offered $50 in exchange for sexual favors in January. This was also in the area of T.C. Lea and Sunset roads. That teen said he punched the man and fled.

After Independence police went public, a Chrisman High School student contacted police on Tuesday to say he had been approached three times by the man and asked about "tricking," according to court records. The teen said the man offered up to $60.

The teen picked Davis out of a photo lineup, according to court documents.

Davis told police that he saw the news reports and knew that police would be coming for him, according to court documents. He said he seeks sex, but only with those of age.

Police say Davis admitting to taking people he solicited for sex to his apartment or to an area frequented by big-rig trucks.

"Davis said on average has been coming out to Independence twice a month for the last eight or nine months looking for sex," according to court documents.

To read previous coverage, click here.

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