'Woke' TV Anchor Busted in Pedophile Sting
New York NBC affiliate host caught in video trying to rape underage boy
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A TV anchor with a New York NBC affiliate has been caught in a pedophile sting while he was trying to meet with an underage boy for sex.
Zach Wheeler, an anchor and the news director for WETM-TV in Elmira, was caught on video after allegedly driving three hours to rape, what he thought was, a child.
Wheeler, a "woke" activist and advocate of LGBT issues and other leftwing causes, was reportedly placed on leave after being trapped in a sting set up by a vigilante group called 607 Predator Hunters.
In a video released by the group, Wheeler is confronted in a Dick’s Sporting Goods store.
The store was where he was allegedly supposed to meet a teen.
"Why do you guys do this to gay and lesbian people?” he asks after offering an array of explanations that fall flat.
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607 Predator Hunters is one of several YouTube channels that lure alleged pedophiles to meet people who they believe to be underage children, then videotape them when they arrive at the agreed-upon location.
In the video posted Saturday, the man identified as Wheeler is confronted in the store, though the location is not given.
"Sunday evening around 5 p.m., Zach came to meet what he thought was a 15-year-old boy,” the narrator begins.
"Shocked upon our team’s arrival, we followed up with some questions to find out exactly what his intentions were.”
The man identified as Wheeler, wearing an untucked pink Oxford shirt, shorts, and sunglasses, is confronted by the 607 Predators crew.
He then agrees to step outside to talk, all the while denying he is there for nefarious reasons.
"That’s not what the chat logs say,” a crew member interjects.
"I thought the kid was 18,” Wheeler pleads.
"I wasn’t looking to have sex.”
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Wheeler then claims he was working on a story about the dangers of online predators.
"I wasn’t even going to come here, because I knew it was you guys,” he insists.
When those attempts fall flat, Wheeler desperately accuses the crew of trying to “cancel” him and asks if they are here to “ruin people’s lives.”
WATCH:
The station posted a statement on its Facebook page which did not name Wheler but appeared to refer to him.
"WETM has been made aware of a video posted to YouTube regarding one of our employees,” the station said in the statement.
"The local group that posted the video claims that the employee engaged in inappropriate behavior.
"WETM management is looking into the questions raised by the video, and the employee will remain off the air until the situation is resolved.
"No charges have been filed in connection with the video.”
