Dearborn Man Faces Charges in Sex Attempt at Frankenmuth Resort

The Alleged Predatory Encounter in Frankenmuth

A man from Dearborn has been charged with criminal offenses after allegedly attempting to meet someone he believed was a minor for sexual purposes at a vacation spot in Frankenmuth. The situation took an unexpected turn when it was revealed that the supposed underage girl was actually part of an online vigilante group.

Starting around June 14, Shah Hussain engaged in online conversations with what he believed to be a 14-year-old girl. According to prosecutors, these messages were sent by Skeeter Jean, an internet personality known for impersonating Chris Hansen, a former TV journalist and host of MSNBC’s “To Catch a Predator.” During their exchanges, Hussain allegedly discussed engaging in sexual activities with the fake teenager. He eventually agreed to meet the individual at Zehnder’s Splash Village in Frankenmuth, even going so far as to book a hotel room, as prosecutors claim.

On July 22, Hussain traveled to the Dead Creek Saloon in Frankenmuth, where he was confronted by Jean, another man, and a camera operator. This encounter was captured on video and later shared on Facebook and Instagram. In the footage, the trio approached Hussain while he was sitting in the driver’s seat of his SUV in the saloon's parking lot. When they addressed him by his first name, he asked who they were and rolled up his window.

Jean reportedly told Hussain, “The police are coming, OK? Do you wanna talk to the police, Shah?” Hussain attempted to reverse his vehicle, but a car associated with Jean’s group blocked his path. Jean continued tapping on the window as Hussain maneuvered his SUV around the blocking vehicle. “Shah? C’mon,” Jean shouted. “You came to meet a 14-year-old girl. It’s over. Let’s just calm down here, alright?”

Hussain eventually left the lot, and a staff member on the patio asked Jean what was happening. Jean responded, “He came to meet a 14-year-old girl,” before the one-minute-and-ten-second video ended. The clip has since been viewed over 133,000 times on Facebook and received more than 19,000 likes on Instagram.

Following the incident, prosecutors issued a warrant for Hussain on September 12. Frankenmuth police arrested him on September 16 and placed him in Saginaw County Jail. The next day, Saginaw County District Judge M. Randall Jurrens conducted Hussain’s arraignment, charging him with child sexually abusive activity, using a computer to commit a 20-year maximum crime, using a computer to commit a four-year maximum crime, and accosting children for immoral purposes. The first two charges are considered the most severe, both being 20-year felonies.

Prosecutors requested that Hussain’s bond be set at $100,000, citing concerns about him being a flight risk with no ties to Saginaw County. However, Judge Jurrens released Hussain on a $100,000 personal recognizance bond, which requires him to wear a tether and report daily. Hussain is scheduled for a preliminary examination on October 8.