TERRELL, Texas — A Terrell dentist has been indicted by a Collin County grand jury nearly a year after being arrested during an undercover sting operation targeting individuals who allegedly intended on meeting and engaging in sexual activities with minors, among other minor-related sexual offenses.
32-year-old Eliphas Alinyo Osinde of Terrell, Texas, was arrested March 24, 2022, by investigators with the Collin County Sheriff’s Office Child Exploitation Unit. Osinde operates Osinde Family Dentistry in Terrell.
At the time of his arrest, Osinde was charged with one count of online solicitation of a minor, sexual conduct, in connection with the undercover investigation in Collin County, according to authorities.
Court documents filed yesterday, February 16, 2023, indicate the Collin County grand jury returned a true bill in the case. Osinde is set for a first appearance on March 10, 2023, before Collin County's 380th District Court Judge Benjamin Smith.
"On March 23rd, [2022] Eliphas began communicating with one of our undercover CEU Investigators, who was posing online as a 15-year-old female," Collin County Sheriff's Office Sergeant Jessica Pond tells inForney.com. "Eliphas made clear his intention to meet and engage in sexual activity. Eliphas made plans to meet at a local park the next day. On March 24th, Eliphas arrived at the meet location where he was arrested by deputies and taken into custody without incident."
According to an arrest report in the case, Osinde allegedly began communication with an undercover officer posing as a 15-year-old female persona, who identified as “Tessa,” through an online messaging application.
The communications went from the messaging application to cellular text messaging communication, according to the arrest report.
Investigators, in their communication with Osinde, established their age with Osinde by stating their persona was 15 years old, nearly 16. Osinde replied in his communication that he was 29.
Osinde and the 15-year-old female persona agreed to meet at a park in Collin County with Osinde allegedly requesting sexual acts. In that communication, Osinde identified his vehicle to the persona.
Osinde arrived at the agreed upon park, in the described vehicle, at approximately 3:17 p.m. on March 24, 2022.
Osinde was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Collin County Sheriff’s Office detention facility where he was charged with online solicitation of a minor, sexual conduct.
“I, Investigator McMillian, have reason to believe and do believe ELIPHAS OSINDE did intentionally and knowingly, over the Internet, by electronic mail or text message or other electronic message service or system, or through a commercial online service, knowingly solicits a minor to meet another person, including the actor, with the intent that the minor will engage in sexual conduct, sexual intercourse, or deviate sexual intercourse with the actor or another person and was an individual whom ELIPHAS believed to be "Tessa" and 15 years of age at the time of the commission of the offense in violation of Penal Code 33.021, a 2nd degree felony," reads, in part, the arrest report.
After arraignment, Osinde’s bond was set at $50,000. He posted bond the following day and was released with felony bond conditions, which included the forfeiture of his passport, according to Collin County court records. Osinde additionally filed for an affidavit of indigency.
A hearing is scheduled for May 3, 2022, on a request to amend Osinde's bond conditions.
According to court records, Osinde is being represented by high-powered Plano attorney Heather J. Barbieri who had been named to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's legal team in defense of charges against him for securities fraud in Collin County.
Osinde graduated Suma Cum Laude from the University of North Texas, as an Honor's scholar graduate, and he serves as an adjunct professor at Baylor College of Dentistry, according to their website.
In total, during the operation dubbed "Home Alone," the Collin County Sheriff's Office made at least 15 arrests, according to a bulletin issued by the agency.
Collin County Sheriff Jim Skinner reminds parents to diligently monitor their children's online activities.
"If you suspect that any person is communicating inappropriately with your child online, please report this matter to your nearest law-enforcement agency," he stated.
