Thomas LaBadie, 36, was sentenced to jail time after his guilty plea for Online Solicitation of a Minor for Sex.
LaBadie was arrested after Lubbock Police said he solicited an officer who was posing as a 14-year-old on Craigslist. The prosecution argued that LaBadie initially denied to arresting officers as to why he was there.
“This (fictional) girl told him twice she was a 14-year-old and that she would get grounded and have to skip school,” prosecutors said.
The defense argued to consider mitigating circumstances, saying that he had no priors and no victims (because it was a sting operation).
“This event would not have happened if not for the police doing this. There is a zero chance that he would do this again,” the defense team said.
LaBadie “takes care of his elderly parents and it would be a hardship on them if he was sent to prison,” explained the defense.
LaBadie was handed a suspended sentence to 10 years probation, and 60 days in jail at the Lubbock County Detention Center. The court ruled that time behind bars would be served on the weekends. LaBadie must report to jail on October 21 at 6:00 p.m.
