Lewd allegations leveled against Lawton ice cream man

An online relationship with who he thought was a 13-year-old girl led to a Lawton ice cream man’s arrest.

James Arthur Janis, 57, made his initial appearance Monday in Comanche County District Court where he received felony charges of lewd or indecent proposals to a child under 16 and unlawful use of a telephone to facilitation soliciting sexual conduct or communication with a minor, records indicate.

Janis was arrested Aug. 15 following an investigation by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) Internet Crimes Against Children Unit (ICAC), Comanche County Sheriff’s Office and the Alleghany, Va., County Sheriff’s Office.

The Alleghany County Sheriff’s Office had been investigating Janis since Aug. 2, when he responded to a Craigslist ad in Virginia they’d posted about a father needing help with his daughter. Janis passed himself off as an expert of sorts and the “father,” a deputy, provided the 13-year-old “girl’s” phone number, according to the probable cause affidavit. District Attorney Kyle Cabelka said it was within six or so text messages when Janis’ communication turned sexual with the “girl,” a deputy.

Janis sent the girl photos of himself, his Italian ice cream business, and of places and girls where he delivers his ice cream, the affidavit states. Cabelka said Janis has been a prominent presence at Southwest Oklahoma sporting events, water parks, swimming pools and other places where children are engaged in activities.

“He had a type,” Cabelka said. “Apparently 13- to 15-year-old girls.”

Examples of the conversations by Janis were included in the affidavit. They were overtly sexual in nature and included references to knowing her young age.

On Aug. 9, the “girl” and Janis had a phone conversation that was recorded. During the conversation, Janis again said he was aware she was “younger” and he told of sleeping with over 3,000 women, his businesses and background and more inappropriate dialogue. According to the affidavit, he told of a 15-year-old girl swimming instructor in Altus he was attracted to as well.

Janis also claimed to have had sex with a 14-year-old girl about three years ago and was talking of going on vacation with the “girl” and her “father” so they could have some alone time, the affidavit states.

While at the Lawton rodeo Aug. 10, Janis sent the “girl” messages about looking at young girls and included photos of the backsides of two young girls around 13-years-old and a 5-year-old girl, OSBI Agent Jonathan Santiago stated.

When arrested, Janis admitted to the conversation but denied the stories he’d told the “girl” were true, saying he made them up to “impress her,” the affidavit states.

According to Cabelka and the OSBI, the investigation into Janis is ongoing.

Anyone with additional information on this case is asked to contact the OSBI at [email protected] or 1-800-522-8017.

Held on $200,000 bond with the order to have no contact with any minor children, Janis returns to court at 3 p.m. Oct. 8.