COVINGTON, Louisiana — A Pearl River County connection played a role in the conviction of a Mississippi man found guilty of attempting to solicit a minor in St. Tammany Parish, authorities said.
Michael Stanley Lang, 56, of Poplarville, was convicted by a St. Tammany Parish jury of computer-aided solicitation of a minor following a trial presided over by Judge Richard Swartz.
Prosecutors said the case stemmed from an undercover investigation into online predators, with assistance from multiple agencies, including the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities said Lang engaged in explicit online conversations with someone he believed to be a 15-year-old girl, who was actually an undercover officer.
The investigation was initiated by the Covington Police Department and later involved several agencies, including the Slidell Police Department, Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations.
During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence showing a pattern of sexually explicit communication and argued that Lang knowingly attempted to entice a minor. Assistant District Attorneys Christina Fisher and Taylor Nicholson said the defendant’s own statements helped establish his intent.
“The sexual conduct we discussed hits right on the head,” Nicholson told jurors during closing arguments. “Intent…how can we tell? His actions and words.”
Fisher added that Lang was fully aware of the age of the person he believed he was communicating with.
“He knowingly communicated with a person who he reasonably believed was under 17,” she said. “Every piece of evidence points to his guilt.”
District Attorney Collin Sims said the conviction underscores the importance of protecting children from online predators.
“This conviction is a testament to the vigilance of our law enforcement partners and the skill of our prosecutors,” Sims said. “We will not allow those who target the vulnerable to hide behind a screen.”
Lang was taken into custody following the verdict and booked into the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office. He is scheduled to be sentenced July 8 before Judge Swartz.
