CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. — Police arrested more than a dozen men as part of "online chatting operations" that focused on adults soliciting sex from children.
"During the operations on March 31 and April 28, detectives intercepted suspects who believed they were soliciting sex from minors through online and social media platforms," a Chesterfield Police spokesperson wrote in an email. "The suspects communicated with people they believed to be underage members of our community and arranged to meet them at a location to have sexual relations. When the suspects came to the location, they were met by police and arrested."
The men, if convicted, would have to register as a sex offender.
"If someone is soliciting a minor, it's a felony and it's also a sex offender registry offense," CBS 6 legal analyst Todd Stone said. "The fact that it's a minor on the other end of the equation is something that is a very sensitive issue."
The following men were arrested in the operation:
- Keith P. Boyd, 47, of Glen Allen (attempted solicitation of prostitution with a minor and use of a vehicle to promote prostitution)
- James C. Brooks, 28, of Charlottesville (solicitation of prostitution with a minor and use of a vehicle to promote prostitution)
- Edward Gerald, 27, of Columbia, Va. (attempted solicitation of prostitution with a minor and use of a vehicle to promote prostitution)
- Tyreece M. Huff, 24, of Freeman, Va. (attempted solicitation of prostitution with a minor and use of a vehicle to promote prostitution)
- Rory Jenkins, 65, of Henrico (attempted solicitation of prostitution with a minor and use of a vehicle to promote prostitution)
- Lorenzo C. Johnson, 52, of Richmond (attempted solicitation of prostitution with a minor and use of a vehicle to promote prostitution)
- Christopher Kirby, 31, of Ruther Glen (attempted solicitation of prostitution with a minor)
- Javier Orosco-Gonzalez, 25, of Henrico (attempted solicitation of prostitution with a minor and use of a vehicle to promote prostitution)
- Cody M. Osmun, 30, of Fort Lee, Va. (solicitation of prostitution with a minor and use of a vehicle to promote prostitution)
- Deepak K. Patel, 41, of Chesterfield (attempted solicitation of prostitution with a minor and use of a vehicle to promote prostitution)
- Denis Rahmanovic, 18, of Chesterfield (attempted solicitation of prostitution with a minor and use of a vehicle to promote prostitution)
- Erkan Sanli, 42, of Chesterfield (attempted solicitation of prostitution with a minor and use of a vehicle to promote prostitution)
- Robert W. Warden Sr., 78, of Chesterfield (attempted solicitation of prostitution with a minor and use of a vehicle to promote prostitution)
- Justin R. Webb, 26, of Chesterfield (attempted solicitation of prostitution with a minor and use of a vehicle to promote prostitution)
- Robert E. Whitfield Jr., 50, of Goochland (solicitation of prostitution with a minor and use of a vehicle to promote prostitution)
- Mack Williams, 28, of Albany, Ga (attempted solicitation of prostitution with a minor and use of a vehicle to promote prostitution)
This is a developing story, so anyone with more information can email newstips@wtvr.com to send a tip.