Two Cayuga County men have been arrested in a sting operation targeting adults attempting to engage in sexual activity with minors.
The multi-agency operation took place between June 18 and 20 and involved the Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office, State Police, the FBI, and others.
Investigators say 45-year-old Troy Bullock of Auburn and 45-year-old Jeremy Soutar of Weedsport believed they were communicating with a child under 15 and made plans to meet for sex. Both were charged with Attempted Rape in the Second Degree.
Soutar, a Level 3 sex offender on parole for a 2014 child sex conviction, faces an additional charge of Attempted Dissemination of Indecent Material to Minors as a sexually motivated felony. He’s being held without bail. Bullock was released on $2,500 bail.
“I would like to thank our partner agencies and commend their members who were involved in this detail, as well as the men and women of our Sheriff’s Office, for identifying these individuals and making these arrests,” said Sheriff Brian Schenck. “Those who intentionally victimize children, especially those who are released on parole after previously doing so, should not be on our streets. We will continue to aggressively work to identify child predators in our community and hold them accountable.”
The Sheriff added if you are aware of anyone who may have been victimized by these individuals, or if you have any information that will assist in these investigations, please contact the Criminal Investigations Division at 315-253-1132.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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