OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. (WDNews) — Nine people were arrested during a four-day undercover operation targeting people accused of using the internet to solicit children for sexual activity, according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriff’s office said “Operation Summer Sentinel” was conducted July 22-25 by investigators with its Homeland Security Unit, along with the FBI, Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations.
According to the sheriff’s office, nine people were arrested after allegedly attempting to arrange sexual encounters with minors they believed they had met online.
Those arrested and their charges include:
Eric Scott Haakenson — Use of a Computer to Solicit a Minor, Traveling to Meet a Minor and Use of a Two-Way Communications Device to Facilitate a Felony.
Mitchell David Burge — Use of a Computer to Solicit a Minor, Traveling to Meet a Minor and Use of a Two-Way Communications Device to Facilitate a Felony.
Thomas Nathanael Howell — Use of a Computer to Solicit a Minor, Traveling to Meet a Minor and Use of a Two-Way Communications Device to Facilitate a Felony.
Joshua Logan Starns — Use of a Computer to Solicit a Minor, Traveling to Meet a Minor and Use of a Two-Way Communications Device to Facilitate a Felony.
Clayton James Kroesche — Use of a Computer to Solicit a Minor, Traveling to Meet a Minor, Use of a Two-Way Communications Device to Facilitate a Felony and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony.
Daniel Warner Stivers — Use of a Computer to Solicit a Minor, Traveling to Meet a Minor and Use of a Two-Way Communications Device to Facilitate a Felony.
Gabriel Taylor — Use of a Computer to Solicit a Minor, Traveling to Meet a Minor, Use of a Two-Way Communications Device to Facilitate a Felony and Attempted Lewd or Lascivious Performance by a Child.
Joshua Samuel Shelfer, identified by the sheriff’s office as a Pleasant Home School teacher — Use of a Computer to Solicit a Minor, Traveling to Meet a Minor and Use of a Two-Way Communications Device to Facilitate a Felony.
Heriberto Santos Godinez — Use of a Computer to Solicit a Minor, Traveling to Meet a Minor, Use of a Two-Way Communications Device to Facilitate a Felony and two counts of Transmitting Harmful Material to a Minor.
The sheriff’s office said investigators also identified a registered sex offender who was on pretrial release for possession of child sexual abuse material.
According to investigators, the man allegedly violated his pretrial release conditions and Florida’s sex offender registration requirements by using a dating application. Investigators said he was communicating with people he believed were juvenile males.
Sean Jeffrey Watson was arrested and charged with Failure to Register an Internet Identifier. The sheriff’s office said his bond was later revoked for violating his pretrial conditions.
“The internet has become one of the primary ways child predators attempt to find and exploit victims,” Sheriff Eric Aden said. “Operations like Summer Sentinel send a clear message that the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office and our law enforcement partners will continue to proactively identify, investigate, and arrest those who target children online. Protecting our most vulnerable residents remains one of our highest priorities.”
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office also encouraged parents and guardians to talk openly with their children about online safety, monitor their online activity and report suspicious behavior to law enforcement.
Image Source – Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office
