By Sarah Stephens
Elmore Autauga News
UPDATE: After Aniah Law hearings, 14 of the 15 arrested are now being held without bond. Those without bond include a charge of Human Trafficking.
Fifteen men were arrested over the weekend during a sting operation involving officers with the Autauga County Sheriff’s Office and the Prattville Police Department. This was done in conjunction with an agency that works with law enforcement to track down alleged human trafficking, child sex offenses and other crimes.
We contacted Autauga County Sheriff Mark Harrell who confirmed the operation, but he said more information will be forthcoming. “It was very successful, I am just sorry it had to be done,” Sheriff Harrell said.
Prattville Police Chief Mark Thompson confirmed his officers were also involved. “We were all able to take part and get some really bad people into jail.”
Both Harrell and Thompson said human trafficking and sex offenses against children are a growing problem and made so much easier by the internet.
In general, with these types of operations, agents will post as an underage child online. We hope to have more information about this specific operation later today. This article will be updated with that information when it is available.
According to the ASO online booking report at the time of this article, the arrested in the sting operation were identified on the booking report as:
Austin Shane Gill, 29, charged with Electronic Solicitation of a Child, Sex Offense – Traveling to Meet a Child for an Unlawful Sex Act.
William Gary Denton, 41, charged with Electronic Solicitation of a Child, Sex Offense – Traveling to Meet a Child for an Unlawful Sex Act, Human Trafficking 1st.
Aaron Blake Schofield, 30, charged with Human Trafficking 1st, Electronic Solicitation of a Child, Sex Offense – Traveling to Meet a Child for an Unlawful Sex Act.
Parrish Patton, 28, charged with Sex Offense – Traveling to Meet a Child for an Unlawful Sex Act, Sex Offense – Electronic Solicitation of a Child, Human Trafficking 1st.
Eric Levail Billups, 40, charged with Human Trafficking 1st, Electronic Solicitation of a Child, Sex Offense – Traveling to Meet a Child for an Unlawful Sex Act.
Jefferson Andrews, 51, charged with Human Trafficking 1st, Electronic Solicitation of a Child, Sex Offense – Traveling to Meet a Child for an Unlawful Sex Act.
Horace Oneal Cooper, 63, charged with Sex Offense – Traveling to Meet a Child for an Unlawful Sex Act, Electronic Solicitation of a Child, Human Trafficking 1st.
Christopher Cheatham, 34, charged with Human Trafficking 1st, Electronic Solicitation of a Child, Sex Offense – Traveling to Meet a Child for an Unlawful Sex Act.
Michael Edward Martin, 55, charged with Human Trafficking 1st, Electronic Solicitation of a Child, Sex Offense – Traveling to Meet a Child for an Unlawful Sex Act. .
Richard Terrones, 20, charged with Sex Offense – Traveling to Meet a Child for an Unlawful Sex Act, Human Trafficking 1st, Electronic Solicitation of a Child.
Joshua Guy Harp, 26, charged with Human Trafficking 1st, Electronic Solicitation of a Child, Sex Offense – Traveling to Meet a Child for an Unlawful Sex Act.
Jaylen Ahjier Kennedy, 21, charged with Sex Offense – Electronic Solicitation of a Child, Sex Offense – Traveling to Meet a Child for an Unlawful Sex Act, Human Trafficking First Degree.
Michael Len Wright, 25, charged with Sex Offense – Traveling to Meet a Child for an Unlawful Sex Act, Electronic Solicitation of a Child, Human Trafficking 1st.
Jeff Bozeman, 25, charged with Sex Offense – Traveling to Meet a Child for an Unlawful Sex Act, Electronic Solicitation of a Child, Human Trafficking 1st.
Ki-Shawn Lasagius Quenzel, 31, charged with Human Trafficking 1st Degree, Sex Offense – Traveling to Meet a Child for an Unlawful Sex Act.
For more information about how you can help stop Human Trafficking, see 10 Ways to Stop Human Trafficking | OUR Rescue
