***All individuals accused of a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty.***
MANDEVILLE — Covington Police Chief Michael Ferrell today announced the arrests of five individuals charged with crimes related to the sexual exploitation of children.
These arrests are the result of a coordinated effort by the Northshore Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, which proactively targeted individuals over the weekend using online platforms to solicit minors for sexual activity as summer school vacations begin.
The successful operation involved a joint investigation hosted by the Mandeville Police Department, with support from the Covington Police Department, the 22nd Judicial District Attorney J. Collin Sims’ Special Victims Unit, the Office of Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill’s Louisiana Bureau of Investigation Cyber Crime Unit, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Homeland Security Investigations New Orleans Field Office, the United States Postal Inspection Service Houston Division, the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Hammond Police Department, and the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department in Mississippi.
“These arrests represent our unwavering commitment to protecting our children,” stated Chief Ferrell. “We will continue to work tirelessly with our local, state, and federal partners to hold those who prey on the vulnerable accountable. This type of crime is horrific, and we will not tolerate it in our community. I am proud of the cooperative effort from all agencies involved. It shows what can be accomplished when we all work together.”
The following individuals were arrested:
In Mandeville by the Mandeville Police Department and booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center:
- Matthew Miller, 40, of Covington: Charged with Computer-Aided Solicitation of a Minor and Indecent Behavior with Juveniles.
- Kyle Baltrukevich, 34, of Pearl River: Charged with Computer-Aided Solicitation of a Minor and Indecent Behavior with Juveniles.
- Stephen Shirley, 43, of Mandeville: Charged with Pornography Involving Juveniles and Nonconsensual Disclosure of Private Information.
In Hammond by the Hammond Police Department and booked into the Hammond City Jail, awaiting extradition to St. Tammany Parish:
- Michael Dore, 57, of Hammond: Charged with Computer-Aided Solicitation of a Minor and Indecent Behavior with Juveniles.
In Tangipahoa Parish by the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office and booked into the Tangipahoa Parish Jail, awaiting extradition to St. Tammany Parish:
- Jason Stevens, 39, of Independence: Charged with Computer-Aided Solicitation of a Minor, Indecent Behavior with Juveniles, and Unlawful Use of a Social Networking Website by a Sex Offender.
These investigations were part of a Northshore Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force operation, which was hosted by the Mandeville Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division, supported by the Covington Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division and Special Response Team, and assisted by several federal, state, and local agencies. Additional charges and arrests are expected from these ongoing investigations.
Covington PD emphasizes the importance of community involvement in identifying and reporting suspicious or criminal activity. Citizens are encouraged to utilize Covington PD’s online reporting system, available at https://www.covla.com/tips, to report any information related to criminal or suspicious behavior.
