COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Four suspects from Ohio were arrested as part of a nationwide FBI operation targeting child sex predators, the U.S. Justice Dept. announced Tuesday.
The arrests are part of Operation Restore Justice, a coordinated effort between the FBI and federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The initiative, which coincided with the end of Child Abuse Prevention Month, resulted in 205 arrests and the rescue of 115 children across the United States, according to the FBI.
“Crimes against children will not be tolerated,” said Elena Latarola, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Cincinnati Division. “The FBI will always protect the vulnerable, especially the children in our community.”
Suspects from Ohio:
- Brett Jarrett Farley, of Delaware, Ohio, was arrested May 1. Authorities say he is accused of producing child sexual abuse material involving a minor in Louisiana. According to court documents, Farley used Snapchat to request nude photographs from the victim.
- Philip Michener, of Cambridge, Ohio, was arrested May 1 and is accused of distributing and possessing child pornography. Investigators said they found more than 1,000 images and 400 videos of suspected child pornography on his electronic devices. Michener was previously convicted of similar offenses in 2016.
- Dakota Michael English, of Middletown, Ohio, was arrested May 2. He is charged with distributing and possessing child pornography. A search of his phone uncovered more than 700 images and videos, officials said. He is accused of using the messaging app Kik to share illegal content.
- William Clark Shepherd, formerly of the Cincinnati area, was arrested April 28 in Orange County, California. He is charged with coercion and enticement of a minor after allegedly contacting a minor boy on the online platform Roblox and exchanging explicit images. The alleged conduct occurred while Shepherd lived in Warren County, Ohio.
Acting U.S. Attorney Kelly A. Norris for the Southern District of Ohio said the arrests send a strong message. “This nationwide operation serves as a significant reminder that, if you are a child predator, you will be identified and prosecuted, no matter where you are,” Norris said.
The FBI said the operation was supported by its Violent Crimes Against Children program and its Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Forces, including teams based in Cincinnati, Dayton, and Columbus.
Investigators urge the public to report suspected child exploitation to 911, the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), or online at tips.fbi.gov.