CORDOVA, Ala. (WIAT) — The kids in one Alabama town are a little safer tonight.
Police in Cordova say they kicked off 2016 with a major online sex predator sting operation.
“Operation Safe Kids” started January 1, and since then, Cordova police have racked up 10 arrests.
Police say the 10 men are all between 21 and 48 years old, and from Walker and Jefferson counties.
Some are already sex offenders. Others, police say, come across as normal, upstanding citizens.
All of these men, however, reportedly chatted on Facebook with who they thought was a 14- or 15-year-old girl.
When they came to Cordova to meet that girl, police were there to arrest them.
Most of the men are all charged with traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act and child solicitation by a computer.
Some are also charged with transmitting obscene materials to a child.
A few are also facing drug and weapons charges.
Police say one of the suspects confessed that he planned to rob the girl.
“When you see the aggressiveness of some of these people that were coming, wanting to meet these children, it’s really sickening,” T.J. Armstrong with Cordova police said. “There’s not another word. It’s disgusting. It’s evil. It really is.”
Police say more arrests could come soon in this operation.
Below is a list of the arrested suspects and their charges:
- Christopher Wayne Reno, 29, from Graysville – Possession of marijuana 1st degree, child solicitation by computer, traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act.
- Johnathan Eli Adcock, 34, from Jasper – Possession of a controlled substance, child solicitation by computer, traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act.
- Joshua Nelson Farr, 34, from Jasper – Traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act
- Terry Lee Lane, 39, from Nauvoo – Transmitting obscene material to a child
- Jonathan Howard Bevill, 39, from Jasper – Possession of a controlled substance, traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act
- Jonathan Dale Adams, 29, from Sumiton – Traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act
- Jon Lynn Hall, 48, from Oakman – Possession of a controlled substance, conspiracy to commit a controlled substance crime, transmitting obscene material to a child, traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act
- David Joseph Parker, 21, from Berry – Possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance, conspiracy to commit a controlled substance crime, child solicitation by computer, traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act, transmitting obscene material to a child
- Matthew Charles Trumbly, 29, from Calera – Child solicitation by computer, traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act
- Kevin Dewayne Freeman, 38, from Bear Creek – Transmitting obscene material to a child, traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act.
Cordova Police officers are urging parents to monitor their children’s online activity. If you suspect that a predator is engaging with your child online, email Cordova Police at specialop64@yahoo.com.
Copyright 2016 WIAT CBS 42
