Overview
- Mesquite police arrested Matthan Lough, 32, on Dec. 10 on a third-degree felony child grooming charge tied to a 17-year-old he coached.
- An arrest affidavit says detectives found a file titled “Hypothetical Counter - Influence Plan” that mapped phases for manipulating a girl.
- The teen told police the contact began after a 2023 church-connected introduction and intensified through 2024–2025 as messages turned explicit.
- Affidavit details three September incidents, including kissing in a church storage closet and sexual acts in parking lots in Mesquite and Forney.
- The victim reported complying out of fear after Lough referenced murder plans and a concealed gun, while experts warn the case shows how accessible AI can aid grooming.