Westville man sentenced to 15 years in prison for trying to meet minor for sex

STAFF REPORT

A Holmes County man’s lewd conversation with who he thought was a 15-year-old girl is getting him time in prison. 

John Edward McGlaun, 61, of Westville, was sentenced to 15 years in prison, State Attorney Larry Basford said Thursday, Dec. 21. McGlaun spoke to who he thought was a minor through Facebook but was actually Holmes County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Bill Pate posing as a juvenile. 

Circuit Court Judge Russell Roberts presided over McGlaun’s trial and handed down the sentence, according to a news release.

“The defendant tried to conceal his true intentions, but the facts of the case showed that his real motive was to prey on what he believed to be a 15-year-old girl,” Prosecutor Ben Keown said. “The Holmes County Sheriff’s Office was proactive in its work on this case. They do these types of investigations to protect the community and ensure people like this never get to a child victim. We will continue to prosecute them thoroughly and use the enhanced sentencing tools that are available.”

McGlaun was arrested at a park June 2022 where he arranged to meet the minor for sex. He went to trial in September this year. 

The jury reportedly only 15 minutes to find McGlaun guilty.