Jacksonville, FL — The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office says a recent child sex sting operation led by their Internet Crimes Against Children detectives has netted 9 arrests, including a former Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office corrections officer.
According to the sheriff's office, the suspects arrested during the two-week 'Operation Downpour' range in age from 18 to 34-years-old and come from all over the country.
Locally, of the 9 arrested, three are from Duval County, one is from St. Johns County, and one is from Clay County. There were also one each from Alachua and Flagler counties. But deputies say one of the suspects is from McChord, Washington; another suspect is from South Gate, California.
The sheriff's office says this operation involved undercover detectives posing as children online to arrange for suspects to meet with them in St. Johns County. The arrest reports show the detectives posed as children between the ages of 11-14 during this operation, though in a couple of instances the detectives posed as the guardian of a child.
Deputies say all the suspects arrested made plans to meet and traveled to the location in an attempt to solicit children.
The arrest report for one of the suspects, Raymond Wygant, reveals he was suspicious about the conversation he was having online.
According to detectives, the following conversation ensued, with the suspect identified as Wygant and UC standing for undercover detective:
Regardless of this conversation, deputies say he still showed up to try to meet who he thought was a minor.
FULL ARREST DETAILS:
Clarence Thomas, 28, Jacksonville
Ct. 1: Attempted Lewd and Lascivious Behavior
Ct. 2: Traveling to meet a minor for sex
Ct. 3: Unlawful use of a two-way communication device
Ct. 4: Solicit a child for sex
Bonds totaled $12,500
The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office says Thomas does not have a booking photo to release, due to Florida’s 119 exemption. WOKV has learned Thomas is exempt because he is a former corrections officer with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
Orion Healy, 19, Palm Coast
Ct. 1: Traveling to meet a minor for sex
Ct. 2: Unlawful use of a two-way communication device
Ct. 3: Solicit a child for sex
Ct. 4: Attempted Lewd and Lascivious Battery
Ct. 5: Tampering with Evidence
Bonds totaled $45,000
Michael Beck II, 21, Jacksonville
Ct. 1: Solicit a child for sex
Ct. 2: Traveling to meet a minor for sex
Ct. 3: Unlawful use of a two-way communication device
Ct. 4: Attempted Lewd and Lascivious Battery
Ct. 5: Transmission of Harmful Material to Mino
Ct. 6: Possession of Marijuana
Bonds Totaled $33,000
Raymond Wygant, 25, McChord, Washington
Ct. 1: Solicit a child for sex
Ct. 2: Traveling to meet a minor for sex
Ct. 3: Unlawful use of a two-way communication device
Ct. 4: Attempted Lewd and Lascivious Battery
Bonds Totaling $32,500
Ethan Persson, 18, St. Augustine
Ct. 1: Solicit a child for sex
Ct. 2: Traveling to meet a minor for sex
Ct. 3: Unlawful use of a two-way communication device
Ct. 4: Attempted Lewd and Lascivious Battery
Bonds Totaling $35,000
Ernie Aleman, 31, South Gate, California
Ct. 1: Solicit a child for sex
Ct. 2: Traveling to meet a minor for sex
Ct. 3: Unlawful use of a two-way communication device
Ct. 4: Attempted Lewd and Lascivious Battery
Bonds Totaling $50,000
Matthew Browne, 28, Gainesville
Ct. 1: Traveling to meet a minor for sex
Ct. 2: Solicit a child for sex
Ct. 3: Attempted Lewd and Lascivious Battery
Ct. 4: Unlawful use of a two-way communication device
Bonds Totaling $35,000
Jhony Chacon-Montiel, 34, Jacksonville
Ct. 1: Travel to meet a minor for sex
Ct. 2: Unlawful use of a two way communications deice
Ct. 3: Attempted Lewd and Lascivious Battery
Ct. 4: Use a computer to solicit a child for sex
No Bond
Joshua Blankenship, 28, Green Cove Springs
Ct. 1: Attempted Lewd and Lascivious Battery
Ct. 2: Unlawful use of a two way communications deice
Ct.3: Travel to meet a minor for sex
Ct. 4: Use a computer to solicit a child for sex
Ct. 5: Possession of a Controlled substance w/o prescription
Ct. 6: Possession of Methamphetamine
No Bond