The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and the Franklin Police Department conducted a child sex sting operation.
This is the fourth time that such an operation of this type has been conducted in Johnson County over the past two and a half years.
This current operation took place Tuesday, November 1, thru Thursday, November 3. Law enforcement worked closely with the members of the Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office to ensure that we are following the letter of the law.
During the course of this operation law enforcement dealt with many different people and situations. The conversations that are had prior to the suspects arriving at the target location are very troubling. The requests that are made to the Iivestigators posing as underage children are also very troubling and disturbing.
Suspect(s) brought many different items to the meeting location. These items ranged from alcoholic beverages and illegal narcotics to firearms.
Some of the individuals traveled a good distance hoping to meet and have a sexual encounter with a minor. Some utilized online transportation services to get to the chosen location. Some even wanted to have the minor leave and go elsewhere to have a sexual encounter.
Several individuals were arrested during this particular operation. It is important that we remember that all suspects are all innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
All information collected in this operation will be turned over to the Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office for their review and formal charges.
The Johnson County Sheriff's office says it wants parents to be very diligent in knowing what their children are doing and who they are speaking with on the internet. The number of online apps and what can be discussed is very alarming. Almost everyone carries a smartphone which makes it so easy to access these sites.
Johnson County law enforcement released statistics of the previous and most recent investigations.
December of 2020: first Sex Sting -10 arrests.
April of 2021: second Sex Sting - 8 arrests.
May of 2022: third Sex Sting - 11 arrests.
November of 2022: fourth Sex Sting - 20 arrests.
