An undercover sex sting dubbed Operation Guardian has led to the arrests of 12 people in Jacksonville.
The investigation focused on adults using electronic devices to solicit sex from minor children. Sheriff John Rutherford said in a Friday news conference the suspects came from as far away as Valdosta, Lake City and New Smyrna Beach to have sex with children.
The suspects instead met up with undercover officers. Rutherford says the operation was planned in January. It was executed over a four-day period in early April.
Rutherford says more arrests are expected as the investigation is still active. Â
"JSO has no higher priority than safeguarding the children of Jacksonville," said Rutherford.
The 12 suspects are between 19 and 52 years old. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said if a child is in a chat room there is a 100 percent chance of them coming in contact with a sexual predator.
"Know what your children are doing on the Internet," said Rutherford.
None of the 12 suspects had prior sex arrests.
These are the men who were arrested:
Isaac Hampton, 19, Jacksonville
Richard Mills, 22, Jacksonville
Andrew Granados, 27, Jacksonville
Daniel Mazza, 20, Jacksonville
Charles Zagorac, 52, Jacksonville
Andrew Adams, 37, Lake City
Dennis Mehaffie, 37, Naylor, GA
Gabriel Rodiguez, 23, Jacksonville
Derick Robinson, 34, Jacksonville
Steven Knaorsky-Kane, 24, Jacksonville
Adam Knopp, 29, New Smyrna Beach
Brian Mullis, 26, Jacksonville
