Man convicted after arranging to meet minors at Oklahoma City motel

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - A Canadian County man has been convicted after arranging to meet two minors at an Oklahoma City motel, officials say.

According to the United States Department of Justice, evidence presented at trial shows that in July 2024, an undercover FBI agent posted a fake online advertisement for the opportunity to meet two minors for sexual purposes.

Through the advertisement, 48-year-old Ronnie Barton expressed interest and over the course of several months, he asked for pornographic photos of the minors. Barton later arranged to meet with the fictitious minors at a motel on January 24, 2025. There, he was arrested outside the motel when he arrived.

On February 20, 2025, a federal Grand Jury returned a four-count Indictment against Barton, charging him with two counts of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, one count of commission of a sex offense by a registered sex offender and one count of attempted receipt of child pornography.

According to public records, Barton is a registered sex offender with a previous felony conviction in 2018 for lewd acts or indecent proposal in Canadian County District Court.

The U.S. Dept. of Justice says at sentencing, Barton is facing no less than 20 years and up to life in federal prison as well as a fine up to $250,000.