Twenty-two people have been arrested in Johnson County law enforcement’s latest sting operation to catch “child predators.”
From Tuesday to Thursday, the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office in partnership with the Franklin, Edinburgh and Greenfield police departments and the Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office carried out another multi-day “child predator sting operation.” It is the latest operation in a series of ongoing efforts to identify, arrest and charge individuals attempting to exploit and victimize children, the sheriff’s office announced in a Friday news release.
The 22 people arrested came from as far as Pendleton, Spencer, Noblesville and Bloomington, and were between the ages of 24 and 58. They were arrested on charges such as child solicitation, possession of a controlled substance, public indecency and driving while suspended.
Since local law enforcement began conducting solicitation operations in 2020, a total of 27 people have been arrested. The number arrested has steadily increased over the last four years:
- December 2020: 10 arrested
- April 2021: Eight arrested
- May 2022: 11 arrested
- November 2022: 20 arrested
- April 2023: 32 arrested
- September 2024: 22 arrested
The sheriff’s office said the success of the operations would not be possible without collaboration between local law enforcement agencies and the prosecutor’s office. Johnson County Sheriff Duane Burgess, Franklin Police Chief Kirby Cochran, Edinburgh Police Chief Doyne Little and Prosecutor Lance Hamner have combined resources and expertise to carry out a coordinated response that addresses the “very real threat these predators pose,” the news release says.
“We continue to act with urgency to prevent these individuals from harming children,” Burgess said in the news release. “Each arrest we make is one less predator in our community, and that’s a step toward ensuring the safety of our children.”
Prosecutor Lance Hamner echoed this commitment, saying the operations are “essential to stopping child exploitation.”
“Our partnership with law enforcement allows us to not only arrest these individuals but also hold them accountable through the judicial process,” Hamner said in the news release.
The sheriff’s office also said the operation is the latest example of local agencies “proactive approach” to combat child exploitation. Law enforcement remains dedicated to these efforts knowing that for “every predator we arrest, we prevent potential future harm to innocent children,” the news release says.
The sheriff’s office and their partner agencies will continue the operations in the future and are committed to protecting children in the community and ensuring those who seek to do them harm face justice, according to the news release.
SUSPECTS, CHARGES
The following people were arrested during a three-day child solicitation sting this week:
Ragam Ndaka Assaka, 33, of Indianapolis; charges: child solicitation
Van Bawi Bik, 32, of Indianapolis; charges: child solicitation
Abner Estuardo De La Cruz Contreras, 33, of Indianapolis; charges: child solicitation
Keyton Reece Davies, 26, of Fishers; charges: child solicitation
Zachary Richard Deralus, 24, of Indianapolis; charges: child solicitation
Brian Sidney George, 58, of Shelbyville; charges: child solicitation
Leroy W. Haynes, 52, of Indianapolis; charges: child solicitation, dissemination of harmful matter, possession of a controlled substance
Maawia Saleh Ibrahim, 24, of Indianapolis; charges: child solicitation
Dong Jian, 31, of Bargersville; charges: child solicitation
Timothy James Maggard, 32, of Avon; charges: child solicitation, patronizing a prostitute, prostitution
Deon Dwayne McClendon, 52, of Indianpolis; charges: child solicitation, promoting prostitution
Benjamin Paul McIntosh, 45, of New Whiteland; charges: child solicitation, public indecency, possession of a controlled substance marijuana, possession of a controlled substance methamphetamine, driving while suspended
David R. Mefford, 36, of Indianapolis; charges: child solicitation
Hernaldo Jordy Mendez-Caporal, 30, of Noblesville; charges: child solicitation, patronizing a prostitute, operating a vehicle while never receiving a license
Cipriano Olmedo, 38, of Indianapolis; charges: child solicitation, patronizing a prostitute, operating a vehicle while never receiving a license, wanted on out of county warrant from Marion County
Logan Ryan Parker, 40, of Bloomington; charges: child solicitation
Immanuel Adeva Rezkall, 31, of Fishers; charges: child solicitation, possession of cocaine, dissemination of harmful matter, resisting/interfering with law enforcement
Ison Robinson, 49, of Noblesville; charges: child solicitation
Jesus Alejandro Romero, 26, of Indianapolis; charges: child solicitation
Cody Allen Scott, 28, of Pendleton; charges: child solicitation, possession of a controlled substance- methamphetamine
Scott A. Terrell, 57, of Spencer; charges: child solicitation, patronizing a prostitute
Jose Roberto Velazquez-Arandia, 35, of Indianapolis; charges: child solicitation, prostitution
