The Blaine Police Department arrested 22 individuals who they say attempted to have sexual contact with a child during a two-day sting operation.
According to details of the sting, which focused on “identifying and arresting individuals attempting to engage in sexual activity with a minor in exchange for payment,” officers posing as an underage juvenile communicated via text message to more than 460 potential suspects. The communication progressed to the point where the officer set up a location for the suspect to meet to engage in sexual activity. Police say that 22 people who communicated with the undercover officer met at the designated location near Lexington Avenue and Main Street “with the intent to pay for sex acts with a juvenile,” the department wrote in a new release.
Each suspect was charged with a felony count of solicitation of a child to engage in sexual conduct. The names of all 22 suspects have not been fully released, but police noted that they were all taken to jail and later released with upcoming court dates.
“This operation demonstrates our unwavering commitment to protecting children from exploitation,” Blaine Deputy Chief Joe Gerhard said in a statement. “We are grateful for the collaboration of our partner agencies, whose teamwork was essential to the success of this effort.”
Caught In A Child Prostitution Sting
Needless to say, those 22 individuals who took the next step to meet up with a potential underage individual to engage in sexual acts are in a tough spot. Not only do police likely have written communication between the defendant and the undercover officer, but the act of meeting at an agreed upon location showcases enough of an intent to follow through with the act that it will be very difficult for even a superb lawyer to earn a dismissal.
These folks need to seek out mental health counseling and other types of behavioral therapy to showcase to the court that they are committed to changing their behavior going forward. It won’t lead to a dismissal, but it may earn them a little leniency during sentencing or when working to negotiate a plea deal. These individuals should be working towards a plea deal unless their was an egregious error or violation during the course of the investigation, because these sting operations tend to be incredibly hard to win when the evidence is stacked against you.
If you need help with any type of criminal charge, let Avery and the team at Appelman Law Firm be your guide. We’ll do everything we can to win your case or help you avoid a worst case scenario. For more information, or the schedule a free case review session, pick up the phone and call our team today at (952) 224-2277.
