(PENSACOLA, Fla.) - Twenty-five men have been charged with felonies after a week-long, undercover sting lead by the Pensacola Police Department to catch internet predators taking advantage of minors.
"We're disappointed that there are 25 people like this who are inclined to and willing to do such a dispicable act," Pensacola Police Chief Chip Simmons said.
The investigation began five months ago by leasing a house in the city and preparing the audio and video surveillance. Investigators then starting placing sexually explicit ads online. Last week, 30 officers from local, state and federal agencies started making arrests in Operation Blue Shepherd.
"We would get 10-15 hits on that ad even though it was only up two or three minutes. That tells you the volume of the people out there," Capt. Paul Kelly said.
Investigators say the suspects all solicited who they thought were young girls or boys online, then set a time to meet up.
"They pulled right up in the driveway, got out of the car and immediately went to this stranger's house and knocked on the door. There was no hesitation what so ever. That would tell me that they've either done this before or just completely at ease and comfortable with going to this house to have sex with a 12 to 14 year old," Kelly said.
Investigators say perhaps the more disturbing aspect of this investigation is that these are just the men who were caught.
"On any given day, in the county of Escambia, Fla., that we could execute 80 warrants, an average of 80 warrants a day for those who are accessing child pornography sites. We are limited by man power and of course resources, the fiscal side of it, or we would make much harder presses against this crime because it is insidious," Escambia Co. Sheriff David Morgan said.
Arrested were:
· Karl Scheffing, 40, of 2426 Rebout Ave., Pensacola. Charged with using a computer to solicit parent/guardian consent, travel to meet/use computer to solicit guardian, and using a 2-way communication device to facilitate felony.
· Christopher Saldana, 24, of 36 Bay Cove, Freeport. Charged with using a computer to solicit parent/guardian consent, travel to meet/use computer to solicit guardian, using a 2-way communication device to facilitate felony, and possession of marijuana not more than 20 grams.
· Michael Armstrong, 21, of 645 James Lee Blvd., Fort Walton Beach. Charged with lewd and lascivious behavior on a victim 12 to 16 years old, using a computer to solicit parent/guardian consent, travel to meet/use computer to solicit guardian, and using a 2-way communication device to facilitate felony.
· Matthew Marana, 27, address unavailable. Charged with using a computer to solicit parent/guardian consent, travel to meet/use computer to solicit guardian, and using a 2-way communication device to facilitate felony.
· James Hadley, 36, of 4051 E. Olive Road, Pensacola. Charged with using a computer to solicit parent/guardian consent, travel to meet/use computer to solicit guardian, and using a 2-way communication device to facilitate felony.
· Robert Dawson, of 4281 Magnolia Crossing, Pace. Charged with using a computer to seduce/solicit/lure a child, travel to meet after using computer to lure child, and using a 2-way communication device to facilitate felony.
· Richard Mays, 26, of 1192 Jennings Trace, Holt. Charged with using a computer to solicit parent/guardian consent, travel to meet/use computer to solicit guardian, and using a 2-way communication device to facilitate felony.
· Jason Vargas, 20, of 1082 Barracks, Corry Station. Charged with using a computer to solicit parent/guardian consent, travel to meet/use computer to solicit guardian, and using a 2-way communication device to facilitate felony.
· William Taylor, 47, of 1200 Scenic Highway, Pensacola. Charged with using a computer to solicit parent/guardian consent, travel to meet/use computer to solicit guardian, and using a 2-way communication device to facilitate felony.
· William Colpetzer, 35, of 5001 Grande Dr., Pensacola. Charged with using a computer to seduce/solicit/lure a child, travel to meet after using a computer to lure child, and using a 2-way communication device to facilitate felony.
· Edwin Gennette, 42, of 5369 Pecos Pass, Gulf Breeze. Charged with using a computer to solicit parent/guardian consent, travel to meet/use computer to solicit guardian, and using a 2-way communication device to facilitate felony.
· Delon Nicholas, 26, of 6115 N. Davis Highway, Pensacola. Charged with using a computer to seduce/solicit/lure a child, travel to meet after using a computer to lure child, and using a 2-way communication device to facilitate felony.
· Adam Barnes, 24, of 1459 Sturbridge Place, Pensacola. Charged with using a computer to solicit parent/guardian consent, travel to meet/use computer to solicit guardian, and using a 2-way communication device to facilitate felony.
· James Churchill, 56, of 2099 Tujagues Place, Pensacola. Charged with using a computer to seduce/solicit/lure a child, travel to meet after using a computer to lure child, and using a 2-way communication device to facilitate felony.
· Eric Ochoa, 32, of 2858 N. 32nd Ave., Milton. Charged with using a computer to solicit parent/guardian consent, travel to meet/use computer to solicit guardian, and using a 2-way communication device to facilitate felony.
· Jason Halford, 36, of 405 Crum St., McKenzie, AL. Charged with using a computer to solicit parent/guardian consent, travel to meet/use computer to solicit guardian, and using a 2-way communication device to facilitate felony.
· Preston Wipf, 21, address unavailable. Charged with using a computer to solicit parent/guardian consent, travel to meet/use computer to solicit guardian, resisting without violence, and using a 2-way communication device to facilitate felony.
· Jason Bingham, 26, of 8990 N. Davis Highway, Pensacola. Charged with using a computer to solicit parent/guardian consent, travel to meet/use computer to solicit guardian, and using a 2-way communication device to facilitate felony.
· Donald Ward, 40, of 1756 Hunter Ave., Mobile, AL. Charged with using a computer to seduce/solicit/lure child, travel to meet after using a computer to lure child, and using a 2-way communication device to facilitate felony.
· Edward Lagrouge, 34, of 5175 Cherry Blossom Lane, Milton. Charged with using a computer to solicit parent/guardian consent, travel to meet/use computer to solicit guardian and using a 2-way communication device to facilitate felony.
· Vincent Claflin, 21, of One Sharilyn Dr., Shalimar. Charged with using a computer to seduce/solicit/lure a child, travel to meet after using computer to lure child, and using a 2-way communication device to facilitate felony.
· Eric Crawford, 25, of 8595 Wilburn Cove, Navarre. Charged with using a computer to solicit parent/guardian consent, travel to meet/use computer to solicit guardian, and using a 2-way communication device to facilitate felony.
· Patrick Quick, 28, of 134 Lovette Place, Pensacola. Charged with using a computer to seduce/solicit/lure a child, travel to meet after using computer to lure child, and using a 2-way communication device to facilitate felony.
· Joseph Caine, 21, of 1051 Pinedale Lane, Cantonment. Charged with using a computer to solicit parent/guardian consent, travel to meet/use computer to solicit guardian, and using a 2-way communication device to facilitate felony.
· Timothy Danley, 18, of 10025 Hillview Dr., Pensacola. Charged with using a computer to seduce/solicit/lure child, travel to meet after using computer to lure child, and using a 2-way communication device to facilitate felony.
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