Ponca City man arrested for soliciting a juvenile female

On October 15, 2021, Ponca City Police Detectives, who are cooperative Agents with the OSBI Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, arrested Ponca City resident Billy Joe Rutherford. Detectives began conducting an investigation into Rutherford, and possible Lewd Proposals to a minor, after it was discovered, during an investigation of a separate incident, that Rutherford had been in contact with a juvenile female on Facebook.

PCPD Detectives wrote and executed a search warrant of Rutherford’s social media account which revealed he had contacted a juvenile female in Ponca City on multiple occasions, and requested lewd and explicit videos from her. Rutherford received explicit videos, photos and messages from the girl, and he sent multiple lewd and explicit photos, videos, and messages back to her. Within the messages, Rutherford solicited the girl for prostitution and requested she find other juvenile females for him to prostitute and engage in sex acts with. Rutherford instructed the juvenile to delete their conversations multiple times.

Rutherford was arrested for Soliciting a Child under 18 years of age for the Purpose of Prostitution, Lewd or Indecent Proposals to a Child Under the age of 16, Procuring Child Pornography, Soliciting and Engaging in Sexual Communication with a Minor, and Violations of the Oklahoma Computer Crimes Act.

Rutherford told PCPD Detectives he engaged in role-playing with the girl, sent and received sexually explicit messages, photos, and videos with the girl, and received sexually explicit photos of other underage girls. Rutherford stated he believed the girls were of legal age to consent to those acts.

If you suspect a child is being sexually exploited, contact the Ponca City Police Department at 580-767-0370. You can also contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST or at www.cybertipline.com.