9 Men Arrested In Online Child Sex Sting: Sheriff

OREGON CITY, OR — Nine men were arrested last weekend during Operation Kidsafe, an interagency law enforcement sting targeting individuals seeking sex with minors under 14 years old.

Working alongside the Clackamas and Multnomah counties sheriff's offices, the Washington State Highway Patrol, the Oregon State and Oregon City police, the U.S. and Clackamas County District attorney's offices, and the Department of Homeland Security, the Interagency Child Exploitation Prevention Team (INTERCEPT) from Nov. 17 to 19 used several law enforcement personnel to pose as minors online and setup meetings at an undisclosed location, according to the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office statement.

When the suspects who had been identified earlier as "chatters" by the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program (ICAC) arrived at the house where they expected to meet children under 14 for sex, they were instead arrested, officials said. Altogether, the sting reportedly used 44 different professionals, from IT and surveillance to officers and attorneys.

"For an operation like this to be successful — and this one was very successful — it requires time, resources and money from a number of partner agencies," Clackamas County Sheriff Craig Roberts said in the statement. "Front-line troops and leaders from local, regional and federal agencies really came together for this one. Preventing child exploitation is a huge priority for the Sheriff's Office and the cornerstone of INTERCEPT's mission. We couldn't be prouder."

The men arrested ranged in age from 21 to 66 years old. All nine were taken to the Clackamas County Jail, officials said. Each was charged with the online sexual corruption of a child; some received additional charges.

The following men were arrested:

• Shawn Michael Richardson, 43.

• Patrick Anthony Douglas Lovato, 25. Along with an additional count of online sexual corruption, Lovato also received two counts of encouraging child sex abuse.

• David Hunter Duvall, 38. Duvall was also charged with luring a minor.

• Nathan Kevin Jump, 21.

• Douglas Scott Hewitt, 66.

• Kyle Gregory Johnson, 41. Johnson was also charged with luring a minor.

• Mahoney McKeon, 45.

• Ryan Christopher Vanderzanden, 49. Vanderzanden was also charged with luring a minor.

• Vincent Gregory Rundo, 46. Rundo was also charged with luring a minor.

Information gained during Operation Kidsafe could lead to more arrests "in the near future," officials said.

Booking Photos via Clackamas County Sheriff's Office; Top Image: ROOKIE23 via Pixabay.com