SEYMOUR, Ind. — The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department arrested eight individuals ranging in age from 19 to 60 years old during an Anti-Human Trafficking and Pedophile Operation.
The operation has been in planning since January and took place March 9th through March 11. It was conducted in two different locations in Seymour, Jackson County Sheriff deputies said.
The sheriff’s department had operation support from Covenant Rescue Group (CRG). CRG is a non-profit organization and not affiliated with any vigilante group. CRG offers support in training and supporting law enforcement operationally. When the operation began on Tuesday, members of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department and CRG began communicating online with individuals using sex trafficking and prostitution websites, deputies said.
Members from the Jackson County Prosecutors Office were also present for the operation and available for any legal questions that came up. The operation involved officers using decoy profiles for 15 to 19 year old females. Of the eight individuals arrested six were arrested for attempting to have sex with a child under the age of 16 and they were charged with attempted sexual misconduct with a minor, a Level 4 or 5 felony.
The other two arrests came after the individuals showed up at the operation site to pay for sex from either a 16 or 19 year old. One of those individuals came to the site to have sex with both the 16 and 19 year old and promised to pay with a controlled substance, deputies said.
Methamphetamine and Ecstasy were located at the time of that individual’s arrest and the suspect was also charged with those offenses.
About 7,000 messages were sent and received during the operation and all suspects had intentions of having sex for money with girls 15-19 years old.
Two specific individuals were suspected sex traffickers who used intimidation methods in attempt to lure girls 16-19 years old to Louisville and Indianapolis, deputies said. However, the operation stayed within Jackson County. All individuals arrested came to the operation site and were immediately taken into custody after attempting to make physical contact with the decoy, deputies said.
The following is a list of the suspects:
Richard N. Holman Jr, 60, of Holton, child solicitation a Level 4 felony, attempted sexual misconduct with a minor, Level 4 felony
Jaceson A. Gahl, 19, of Indianapolis, child solicitation, Level 5 felony, attempted sexual misconduct with a minor- Level 5 felony
Christopher C. Wylie, 33, of Amelia, Ohio, child solicitation, Level 4 felony, attempted sexual misconduct with a minor, Level 4 felony
Thomas P. Roesser, 36, Flowery Branch, Georgia, dealing in methamphetamine, Level 5 felony, possession of methamphetamine, Level 6 felony, possession of a controlled substance, Class A misdemeanor, making an unlawful proposition, Class A misdemeanor
Quentin G. Newton, 37, Evansville, making an unlawful proposition, Class A misdemeanor
Johnny R. Lynn, 54, Bedford, child solicitation, a Level 4 felony, attempted sexual misconduct with a minor, a Level 4 felony.
Steven C. Frey, 30, Owensboro,Kentucky, child solicitation, a Level 4 felony, attempted sexual misconduct with a minor, a Level 4 felony, dealing in methamphetamine, a Level 5 felony
Hector De Acruz, 39, Indianapolis, child solicitation, a Level 4 felony, attempted sexual misconduct with a minor, a Level 4 felony.
