David Shaw, a former special-education teacher from Pinedale, Wyoming, found himself at the center of controversy in April 2022 following a child predator sting operation in California. Despite not facing criminal charges, Shaw’s teaching license in Wyoming has since expired, and he is no longer permitted to teach in the state.
The incident that brought Shaw into the spotlight was orchestrated by an online group known as People v Preds. They conducted a sting operation where they posed as a 14-year-old boy on the Grindr social media app. Shaw reportedly engaged in conversation with the decoy and agreed to meet at a location outside a San Diego pharmacy. The confrontation was captured in a video where the group’s member confronted Shaw with his photo, questioning his intent to meet an underage boy.
In a twist to the event, Shaw called the police to report harassment by the video maker, but the video concludes with Shaw’s arrest. However, Sublette County Sheriff KC Lehr informed Cowboy State Daily that Shaw was not charged with a sex crime. The San Diego District Attorney’s office reportedly does not pursue cases involving third-party allegations like those made by People v Preds. Attempts to confirm this with the San Diego District Attorney’s Office were unsuccessful.