GRAND RAPIDS, MI - The video vigilante who says he posed as a teenage girl to attract sexual predators has asked for help fighting a lawsuit filed by one of the men he filmed.

Zach Sweers, 23, is being sued by Zachary Snoeyink, 29, who alleges libel, slander and invasion of privacy.

Snoeyink said Sweers unfairly damaged his character.

Snoeyink is one of seven men charged with accosting for immoral purposes after Sweers conducted what he calls a sexual-predator sting. He posed as a teen in sexually charged chats, then videotaped confrontations with the men that were posted online.

He met the men through Craigslist.

Sweers said he needs money to defend himself against what he called a "frivolous lawsuit."

Kent County Circuit Judge George Buth earlier told him to consider hiring an attorney. The judge chided Sweers for failing to cite legal authority in a failed motion to delay proceedings.

"Despite my strong defenses, I'm greatly disadvantaged," Sweers wrote on a GoFundMe page.



"I've been representing myself in the few weeks this lawsuit has been going on so far and I have realized that Michigan law in civil court procedure is way over my head.

"The judge denied my motion to delay this civil case until the resolution of the Plaintiff's criminal case and warned me that if I mess up like violate a court rule, the court will impose sanctions on me. That means I could be ordered to pay money on some technicality, me having no legal knowledge or experience to know any better as there is way too much substance for someone like myself to learn in such little time. I need an attorney but unfortunately, I simply cannot afford one."

In his GoFundMe request, Sweers shared portions of the online chats, as well as the confrontation, he allegedly had with Snoeyink.

"Only when I confronted him with my video camera did he realize that the girl he thought he was talking to online never existed and he suddenly found himself in a world (of) trouble," Sweers wrote.

Sweers said he provided police with chat logs and video of his confrontations with the seven men earlier this year.

Snoeyink's attorney, Ross Plont, wrote in court documents: "The Defendants have taken it upon themselves to be Judge, Jury, and Executioner in the eyes of public opinion to smear Plaintiff's name in a negative light across the Internet and local news media outlets all for Mr. Sweers' own Internet fame and/or financial gain.

Kent County Prosecutor William Forsyth, citing danger to the videographer and community, has since told him he would no longer file charges based on his evidence.

Sweers said he no longer conducts his own stings.

He said he has focused on defending the lawsuit and writing a manual for law enforcement on pretending to be a minor to catch predators.

He denies making any money on the videos.

His GoFundMe page shows nearly $6,700 in donations, with a $25,000 goal.

John Agar covers crime and other issues for MLiveE-mail John Agar: jagar@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ReporterJAgar