The county prosecutor has filed charges against all eight men arrested in last week’s child solicitation operation, and court documents revealed seven of them knew the decoy — an undercover detective — was just 14 years old, but followed through with plans to meet the teenager for sex.
The Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office has filed the following charges in court:
- Deekshith Deva, 27, of Indianapolis, is charged with Level 4 child solicitation;
- John Fenes, 34, of Franklin, is charged with Level 4 child solicitation and dissemination of harmful matter to a minor; and
- Richard Gammon, Jr., 24, of Indianapolis, is charged with Level 2 dealing in methamphetamine, resisting law enforcement and driving while suspended with a prior conviction.
- Danny Harris, 48, of Bloomington, is charged with Level 4 child solicitation, dissemination of harmful matter to a minor and possession of methamphetamine;
- Kevin Hatchett, 60, of Nashville, is charged with Level 4 and 5 child solicitation;
- Jesus Martinez, 28, of Pendleton, is charged with Level 5 child solicitation;
- Christopher McClain, 35, of Greenwood, is charged with Level 4 child solicitation;
- Patrick McGough, 46, of Zionsville, is charged with Level 4 child solicitation.
Over the course of three days, more than 35 officers from the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, Franklin Police Department, Morgan County Sheriff’s Office, Martinsville Police Department and the Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office conducted a joint child solicitation operation, this one dubbed Operation Guardian. It was similar to the child solicitation sting in December, which netted 10 arrests, officials said.
During chat room conversations on various sex-oriented apps, the suspects solicited sex and arranged to meet with a detective they thought was an underage child at a Franklin hotel. The men ignored warnings from other individuals in the chat rooms that officers frequently posed as children, officials said last week.
When the suspects arrived at the agreed-upon location to meet with the undercover detectives, they were arrested and taken to the Johnson County jail where they were interviewed by detectives.
Several of the men intended to pay for sex with money and food. Some brought condoms and drugs. In Deva’s case, he wanted to know for sure the teen was 14 before meeting up with her.
“If you don’t mind can I see how your body looks. I am not asking for any nudes. Just want to be sure about the 14 age thing,” he said in a text to the detective.
Some of the suspects admitted guilt, others were apologetic, and one refused to speak with detectives after their arrests, court documents show.
The fact that some of the men physically traveled to a location to meet up with a minor heightened the level of the charges to a Level 4 felony. Some traveled as far as 50 miles.
Gammon’s case was turned over to narcotics deputies, Villanueva said.
“In that case, Gammon is alleged to have reached out to the undercover officer on a sex website not for the purpose of soliciting sex, but to sell various drugs. A deal was arranged via text, and Gammon was apprehended at the location when he arrived to deliver the drugs. He was not involved in any kind of sex solicitation,” he said.
Gammon offered to deliver 7 grams of meth during a conversation with the detective, Maj. Damian Katt, investigations division commander at the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, said last week.
Gammon arrived at the hotel and knocked on the door of the agreed-upon room. When police answered the door, he took off running. One officer was injured in the chase, and Gammon was apprehended. Police found more than 14 grams of meth on him, according to court documents.
Gammon has a long criminal history involving drugs, guns and robbery, court documents show.
Gammon could face up to 30 years in prison, with a 17.5-year advisory sentence.
The others could face up to 12 years, with six-year advisory sentences, and could be ordered to pay up to $10,000 fines. The two with pornography charges could face an additional 2.5 years.
Now that charges are filed and their cases are assigned to a court, they will receive a summons to appear or they will be arrested on a warrant.
