Sheriff: 20 men arrested following ‘child sex sting’ operation

FRANKLIN, Ind. (WISH) — Deputies conducted a three-day “child sex sting” investigation in Johnson County that resulted in the arrest of 20 men who, police say, were hoping to have sexual encounters with minors.

According to a release, the investigation took place from Tuesday through Thursday. Police say, during the investigation, suspects brought different items to the meeting location including alcoholic beverages, illegal narcotics and firearms.

“You don’t know who you’re taking off the street, what they were capable of doing, or what they maybe have done in the past, but you just want to make sure you’re protecting the children and this is one way that I can see that we can do that,” Johnson County Sheriff Duane Burgess said Friday.

Investigators say some of the people traveled as far as Alabama and Washington to have sexual encounters with minors.

Burgess wouldn’t say what sites these predators used to entice children but says the number of online apps is alarming.

“They will gain their trust and they will have your child meet with them, and we pray that nothing happens to a child, but, you know, kids come up missing and the internet is part of this problem,” Burgess said.

“I’ve got three kids of my own and the world is a dangerous place enough without those folks roaming around, so I think it’s a fantastic thing. Awesome job by those officers,” Zach Spurling, an Indiana resident, said.

The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office encourages parents to be watchful of the online activity of their children.

“I couldn’t imagine what it’s like for a parent that really guards their child on his phone and watches to see whether they chatting with someone or what apps they’re using,” Burgess said.

This was the fourth time this type of operation has been conducted in Johnson County over the past 2½ years.

The Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office will determine formal charges for those arrested.

• Jeffrey A. Hance, 64, of Mooresville.
• Za Thio, 36, of Indianapolis.
• Jonathan Tyler Evans, 36, of Pisgah, Alabama.
• Samuel Ernestro Severino Cabrera, 24, of Indianapolis.
• Jeffery Dylan Alford, 26, of Greenwood.
• Thiang Za Lian, 21, of Indianapolis.
• Jered S. Morgan, 22, of Monrovia.
• Jonathan D. Morales, 31, of Indianapolis.
• Calvin Michael Farris, 37, of Richland, Washington.
• Philip Michael Buhrke, 26, of Indianapolis.
• Eric N. Johnson, 38, of Noblesville.
• Brallan Campos-Acevedo, 22, of Indianapolis.
• Zacariah Ray Hart, 43, of Indianapolis.
• Ryan Alan Browning, 34, of Harts, West Virginia.
• Helly Cananl Sang, 21, of Indianapolis.
• Mark Alan Adams, 59, of Cross Plains, Indiana.
• Nicholas T. Hubbard, 23, of Indianapolis.
• Nicholas T. Hubbard, 28, of Indianapolis.
• Christopher Greg Wilson, 37, of Columbus, Indiana.
• Max Joseph Miller, 25, of Indianapolis.