A joint law enforcement operation resulted in the arrest of eleven Indiana men earlier this month.
Posing as 14-year-olds, detectives posted to social media and chatted with the men about sexual acts and fetishes. Once they eventually asked to meet, they were caught up in the “Hi, I’m John Edwards”-style sting. The accused offenders came from as near as Greenwood and as far away as Greentown.
They didn’t show up empty-handed, either. All of them brought small “gifts” such as sex toys, condoms, liquor, lubricant, and meth.
One man even brought guns.
The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and Franklin Police joined forces for the three-day sex sting. This is the third such collaboration in two years, resulting a total of 29 arrests.
The following were arrested May 10 – 12:
– Jeff Hendricks, 49, of Unionville, charged with child solicitation and resisting law enforcement. In his position as deputy director of the American Legion, one of his duties is overseeing youth programs. In a chat, he told the “girl” he wanted to make her fantasies come true “no matter how twisted or perverted.”
– Samual N. Kaufman, 20, of Bloomington, charged with child solicitation.
– Joshua L. Sliter, 30, of Greentown, charged with child solicitation and providing pornography to minors. Traveled 113 miles to meet the “child.”
– Derick O. Sosa, 19, of Indianapolis, charged with child solicitation and resisting law enforcement.
– Jason A. Thornton, 40, of Indianapolis, charged with child solicitation, possession of methamphetamine, habitual traffic violator – lifetime suspension, illegal possession of a firearm and forgery.
– Francisco B. Amaya Marquez, 25, of Indianapolis, charged with child solicitation.
– Dylan C. Muncy, 22, of Indianapolis, charged with providing pornography to minors.
– Chase M. Reese, 30, of McCordsville, charged with child solicitation and providing pornography to minors.
– Nicholas Sorley, 22, of Sharpsville, charged with child solicitation.