Colorado Man Arrested in Malta Sting Operation

A Boulder Colorado man has been arrested after he was caught in a sting operation in Malta targeting sexual predators. 

Preston Purdy, 42, of Boulder Colorado was arrested by the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office and charged with four counts of attempted first-degree rape, and four counts of felony attempted first degree aggravated sexual abuse. 

According to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a call on Nov. 9 at 12:15 p.m. on Manning Road in the Town of Malta that a private sexual predator sting was taking place at the residence. The caller told the target of the sting had arrived at the residence possessing child sexual abuse material. 

Purdy allegedly flew from Colorado to the capital region with the intention of meeting three children aged 3, 8, and 11.

The sting was conducted by Eric Authors, and live streamed on the New York State Predator Alert 2.0 Facebook page.

 “To say that Purdy’s intentions were unspeakable, horrifying and send a chill down every parent’s spine is a major understatement,” Sheriff Jeffrey R. Brown said. “This case truly demonstrates the worst of the worst.”

Purdy was remanded into the Saratoga County jail, and the investigation is ongoing, the Sheriff’s Office said.