A man who allegedly fled the State of Texas to avoid prosecution for the online solicitation of a minor was arrested in Seminole County earlier this week.

According to court records, 19-year-old Kendall Alexander Brakhage was booked into the Seminole County Jail on April 7 on charges of Fugitive From Justice. The felony information document states that Brakhage “is charged with the commission of the crime of online solicitation of a minor under 14, Case # D241586CR, in the State of Texas, and that he has fled from the State to avoid prosecution.”

Brakhage was originally charged with a felony in November 2024 in Odessa, Texas. The crime occurred in August of that year.

According to District Attorney Erik Johnson, Brakhage signed a waiver of extradition on Thursday, meaning he will voluntarily return to Texas without a formal court hearing. Johnson added that Barkhage has a guardian, his grandfather, that lives in Earlsboro. The reason for the guardianship is unknown.

Texas penal code states the following about online solicitation of a minor: “A person commits an offense if the person, over the Internet, by electronic mail or text message or other electronic message service or system, or through a commercial online service, knowingly solicits a minor to meet another person, including the actor, with the intent that the minor will engage in sexual contact, sexual intercourse, or deviate sexual intercourse with the actor or another person. The offense is a felony of the second degree if the minor is younger than 14 years of age or is an individual whom the actor believes to be younger than 14 years of age at the time of the commission of the offense.”

The United State Department of Justice recommends these tips to help parents/guardians keep children safe from online solicitation.

Protect children from online solicitation by fostering open communication, using parental controls, and monitoring social media/ gaming activity. Key safety measures include teaching children to avoid chatting with strangers, keeping devices in common areas, and recognizing grooming red flags like requests for secrets or gifts. Report suspicious activity immediately to law enforcement.

Preventative Measures and Best Practices Open Communication: Talk to children about online dangers, ensuring they know they can report uncomfortable interactions without fear of punishment.

Active Monitoring: Supervise internet use, check gaming and social media apps, and know their screen names and passwords.

Set Boundaries: Establish a digital safety plan or contract that restricts talking to strangers, forbids sharing personal information, and limits device use to public areas of the home.

Use Technology: Employ parental control software on devices, apps, and browsers to limit access to inappropriate content.

Educate on Red Flags: Teach kids about grooming techniques, such as online strangers asking to keep relationships secret, sending gifts, or asking for pictures.

Actionable Safety Steps Check Privacy Settings: Ensure profiles on social media and games (like Roblox, Fortnite, Instagram) are set to private.

FBI Safe Online Surfing (SOS): Register children for the free FBI SOS program to learn about internet safety.

Monitor Behavior Changes: Be alert to changes in personality, such as fear, depression, or excessive secrecy regarding their devices.

Reporting and Resources Report to Platform: Use the site’s reporting mechanism to block users.

Law Enforcement: Contact local law enforcement immediately if a predator is suspected, or contact Know2Protect.

Human Trafficking Hotline: Call 1-888-3737888 or text “HELP” or “INFO” to 233733.

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC): Report online exploitation to the CyberTipline.

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