After several high-profile sting operations netted dozens of arrests of adults looking to arrange sex with minors, conventional wisdom would say that the prevalence of the crime would decline.
But last month the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office learned that the opposite was true when they arrested more people than ever before in a targeted effort to remove sexual predators from the community in advance of the Halloween holiday so that children could trick-or-treat safely.
According to the agency, 202 arrests were made during the multiday operation that included participation from the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office Special Services Division (AGNET, Community Car, and Community Revitalization Units), the sheriff’s Child Abuse and Sexual Assault Unit, the San Joaquin County Probation Department, the Lodi Police Department, the California Department of Justice, the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office, the Office of Correctional Safety Fugitive Apprehension Team, the AB109 Task Force, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Sacramento Sheriff’s Office High Tech Crimes task Force.
The High-Tech Crimes Task Force consists of members from the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, the Sacramento Police Department, the Placer County Sherriff’s Office, the Folsom Police Department, and the Placer District Attorney’s Office.
“What have we learned from this operation? The demand for sex with minors and adults is pervasive,” the agency wrote in a social media post announcing the results of the operation. “Our data compared to past investigations of the same type shows that the problem has increased, especially with those soliciting sex.
“In each operation we have done, there has been a noticeable increase in arrests compared to past operations. This is an ongoing problem that we will continue to vigorously combat.”
Of the 202 arrests made over the 10-day operation window, 38 people were arrested for online sexual predating of a minor while 21 people were arrested for arrested for soliciting sex from a decoy deputy minor. There were 127 arrests for soliciting sex, 3 people arrested for prostitution, 5 warrant arrests, 2 weapons arrest, and three battery on a police officer arrests.
There was also an arrest after the pursuit of a suspect in a vehicle, an arrest for possession of stolen vehicle, and an arrest of possession of narcotics.
A total of five guns were also seized during the operation.
While the increase in the number of arrests is alarming, it also provides a chance for parents to speak their children about who they talk to online and via electronic means and notify them of the dangers that exist.
“Predators use online message boards, video games, and other chat applications beyond traditional text and direct messaging,” the agency wrote. “Be involved, pay attention, and warn your children about the existence and dangers of talking to people they don’t know online.
“Not everyone is as they seem.”
To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.
