HAMILTON COUNTY, TX — The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office have arrested 26 people after an investigation into social media and dating applications during COVID-19.
According to the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, the suspects traveled to predetermined areas to engage in sexual intercourse with children, while also sending sexually explicit text messages, photographs, and videos to children they knew to be fourteen to sixteen years of age.
Deputies say other suspects offered children money to engage in sexual acts with them.
In March 2020, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office began an online investigation regarding social media and dating applications.
“Operation Quarantine” began with the first arrest occurring on Thursday, March 26, 2020, according to the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office.
“Operation Quarantine” was initiated due to the rise in social media activity from COVID-19.
Deputies say defendants were actively seeking out children to engage in sexual intercourse or deliver/use controlled substances.
The defendants that were were arrested are from Mills, Erath, Hamilton, Comanche, Bell, Travis, Taylor, Lubbock, Lampasas, Brown, Johnson, Palo Pinto, Eastland and Bosque Counties.
HCSO also arrested defendants from Florida and California.
"The operation was a success and will potentially place the subjects on the sex offender registry," HCSO said.
The 26 arrested are listed here:
1. Channing Kappel, 33, Comanche, Texas, Online Solicitation of a Minor, 2nd Degree Felony.
2. Christopher Brown, 24, Fort Hood, Texas, Online Solicitation of a Minor, 3rd Degree Felony.
3. Josue Valdes, 27, Hamilton, Texas, Online Solicitation of a Minor, 2nd Degree Felony.
4. James Cafiero, 42, Wesley Chappel, Florida, Online Solicitation of a Minor, 3rd Degree Felony.
5. Jeremy Torrez, 51, Lubbock, Texas, Online Solicitation of a Minor, 3rd Degree Felony.
6. Edward Gonzales, 35, Goldthwaite, Texas, Prostitution – Solicit under the age of 18, 2nd Degree Felony.
7. Anthony Rene Rivera, 33, Lampasas, Texas, Online Solicitation of a Minor, 3rd Degree Felony.
8. Shawn Khadem Moghaddam, 39, Austin, Texas, Man/Del CS PG1 > 4 < 200 Grams, 1st Degree Felony, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by Felon, 3rd Degree Felony.
9. Michael Aaron Emerich, 23, Nolanville, Texas, Online Solicitation of a Minor, 2nd, Degree Felony, Online Solicitation of a Minor, 3rd Degree Felony.
10. Charles McLaughlin, 23, Online Solicitation of a Minor, 2nd Degree Felony, Man/Del CS PG1 > 1 < 4 Grams Drug Free Zone, 2nd Degree Felony.
11. David Kendrick, 33, Stephenville, Texas Online Solicitation of a Minor, 3rd Degree Felony.
12. Gerardo Delosreyes, 29, Stephenville, Texas, Online Solicitation of a Minor, 2nd Degree Felony, Man/Del CS PG1 < 1 Gram, State Jail Felony.
13. Andrew Dunlap, 33, Iredell, Texas, Man/Del CS PG1 < 1 Gram, State Jail Felony.
14. Alejandro Bernal, 31, Rogers, Texas, Man/Del CS PG1 < 1 Gram Drug Free Zone, 3rd Degree Felony.
15. Garrett James-Rivard Hill, 26, Troy, Texas, Online Solicitation of a Minor, 3rd Degree Felony.
16. Jason J. Nicholas, 35, Killeen, Texas, Man/Del CS PG1 > 4 < 200 Grams, 1st Degree Felony.
17. Tyler J. Andrews, 34, Burleson, Texas, Man/Del CS PG1 > 1 < 4 Grams, 2nd Degree Felony.
18. Jose Martinez, 29, Killeen, Texas, Online Solicitation of a Minor, 3rd Degree Felony.
19. Alex Franklin Miller, 38, Abilene, Texas, Online Solicitation of a Minor, 2nd Degree Felony.
20. Richard Pace, 37, Mineral Wells, Texas, Online Solicitation of a Minor, 2nd Degree Felony, Online Solicitation of a Minor, 3rd Degree Felony.
21. Charles Luke Sanders, , Athens, Texas, Online Solicitation of a Minor, 2nd Degree Felony.
22. Lance Andrew Hutchinson, 37, Rising Star, Texas, Online Solicitation of a Minor, 3rd Degree Felony.
23. Darrell Edward Berdine, Camarillo, California, Online Solicitation of a Minor, 3rd Degree Felony.
24. Noah Johnson, 34, Stephenville, Texas, Poss CS PG1 > 1 < 4 Grams, 3rd Degree Felony, Poss CS PG3 < 28 Grams, Class A Misd, Unlawful Carry of a Weapon, Class A Misd.
25. John Jacobus Karakaris, 30, Brownwood, Texas, Conspire to Del CS PG1 > 1 < 4 Grams Drug Free Zone, 2nd Degree Felony, Conspire to Del CS PG3 < 28 Grams Drug Free Zone, State Jail Felony, Conspire to Del Marij > ¼ oz < 5 lbs for Remuneration, State Jail Felony.
26. Kevin Priesley Srader, 31, Hamilton, Texas, Man/Del CS PG1 < 1 Gram, State Jail Felony.
