A total of nine individuals were arrested after they allegedly arranged to meet up with someone they believed to be a juvenile, the sheriff’s office said.
MOHAVE COUNTY, Ariz. — Several individuals were arrested over the weekend by the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office for allegedly attempting to engage in illicit activities with children.
MCSO reported conducting a targeted operation Jan. 30-31 to apprehend “online predators” seeking to harm children in the Bullhead City area. A total of nine individuals were arrested after they allegedly arranged to meet up with someone they believed to be a juvenile and engage in sexual-related activity, the sheriff’s office said.
The suspects are facing various felony charges and have been identified as:
- Lucas D. Robbinson, 45 of Bullhead City
- William N. Hall, 51 of Bullhead City
- Ryan T. Carpenter, 28 of Bullhead City
- Steven J. Monte, 67 of Mohave Valley
- Jessi A. Rubi, 42 of Bullhead City
- Brandon Torres, 22 of Bullhead City
- Carlos Calhoun, 49 of Bullhead City
- Jason B. Proctor, 48 of Bullhead City
- Austin R. Rogers, 31, of Laughlin
Several other law enforcement agencies were involved in the operation.
“The sexual exploitation of children remains a pressing concern throughout Mohave County,” the sheriff’s office wrote in a statement. “These arrests underscore the importance of vigilance and proactive involvement in children’s online activities.”
What is the Valley?
“The Valley” is what locals call the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. It is considered the largest metropolitan area in the Southwest.
The Valley is made up of various major cities other than Phoenix, including:
- Mesa
- Chandler
- Scottsdale
- Tempe
- Glendale
- Surprise
- Peoria
- Gilbert
- El Mirage
- Avondale
- Litchfield Park
- Goodyear
- Buckeye
Whether a city is in the “East Valley” or “West Valley” depends on where it is in relation to Phoenix.
The cities of the Valley have a combined population of 4,845,832 people, according to the 2020 United States Census. This makes it the 11th largest metropolitan area in the country right behind the Boston and Atlanta areas.
How big is Maricopa County?
Maricopa County is the United States’ 4th largest county in terms of population with 4,485,414 people, according to the 2020 Census.
The county contains around 63% of Arizona’s population and is 9,224 square miles. That makes the county larger than seven U.S. states (Rhode Island, Delaware, Connecticut, Hawaii, New Jersey, Massachusetts and New Hampshire).
One of the largest park systems in the nation is also located in Maricopa County. The county has an estimated 120,000 acres of open space parks that includes hundreds of miles of trails, nature centers and campgrounds.
The county’s seat is located in Phoenix, which is also the state capital and the census-designated 5th most populous city in the United States.
The county was named after the Maricopa, or Piipaash, Native American Tribe.
