District Attorney Collin Sims announced this week the successful conviction of Michael Stanley Lang, 56, of Poplarville, Mississippi, for Computer-Aided Solicitation of a Minor. The conviction follows a trial, presided over by Judge Richard Swartz. The guilty verdict, delivered by a St Tammany Parish jury, concludes a case that centered on the defendant’s deliberate efforts to groom and entice an individual he believed to be a 15-year-old girl. Assistant District Attorneys Christina Fisher and Taylor Nicholson prosecuted the case.
The prosecution’s case follows a proactive undercover investigation, initiated by the Covington Police Department, into the online solicitation of minors. It detailed a digital trail of explicit communication between Lang and an undercover officer. Despite the defendant's defense claims regarding intent, the trial revealed a consistent pattern of behavior. Evidence presented by the State showed that Lang knowingly engaged in sexually charged messaging, a fact further solidified by his own testimony on the stand.
“Protecting our children from digital predators remains a cornerstone of this office’s mission,” District Attorney Collin Sims said. “This conviction is a testament to the vigilance of our law enforcement partners and the skill of our prosecutors. We will not allow those who target the vulnerable to hide behind a screen; we will find them, and we will bring them to justice.”
During closing arguments, ADA Nicholson pointed directly to the defendant’s admissions as the clearest proof of his goals.
“The sexual conduct we discussed hits right on the head,” ADA Nicholson said. “Intent...how can we tell? His actions and words. The defendant’s own statements proved that to you. He said ‘yes,’ he said these things.”
ADA Fisher further emphasized the reality of the defendant's actions during her closing remarks, noting that Lang was fully aware of the age of the person he was messaging.
“He knowingly communicated with a person who he reasonably believed was under 17,” ADA Fisher stated. “He knew he was talking to a real person. It is not things you message to a 15-year-old girl. It was for the purpose of enticing sexual conduct. Every piece of evidence points to his guilt.”
The defendant was remanded into the custody of the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office following the verdict. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for July 8, 2026, before Judge Swartz.
DA Sims would like to thank the 22nd JDC Special Victims Unit, including the Covington Police Department, Slidell Police Department, Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Homeland Security Investigations, for their partnership and diligent work in this investigation. Thanks are also extended to the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in the investigation.
