A child-sex assault sting operation led by Aurora, Colorado police officers resulted in the arrest of 13 men from across the metropolitan area, all of whom are accused of trying to pay juveniles for sex, the police announced on September 22. Among the individuals taken into custody during the month-long operation, which was referred to as Operation SAFE Kids, two were previously registered sex offenders, one man was 65 while the other was 21.
“Several suspects traveled from communities across the Denver metro area and many arrived with the exact amount of cash discussed for sexual services, despite being told they were communicating with someone underage,” Investigations Bureau Cmdr. Marc Paolino went on to say. “Their actions, including the time and effort they took to arrange and pursue these encounters, demonstrate the seriousness of their intent.”
The men who were arrested replied to posts made on online websites that local law enforcement officials say were targeted due to being suspected of involving juvenile sexual trafficking behavior. “When the operation began in mid-August, detectives used undercover, minor-aged personas to engage with suspects online,” Aurora police spokesperson Joe Moylan said in a statement.
“When the operation began in mid-August, detectives used undercover, minor-aged personas to engage with suspects online,” Aurora police spokesperson Joe Moylan went on to explain in a statement, according to the Sentinel. “Among the 13 suspects arrested, two were already registered sex offenders, seven brought sexual devices, one brought ketamine, another brought vodka and one brought a firearm.”
Police also stated that the Stopping Adults From Exploiting Kids operation was partly inspired by a change made in Colorado law earlier this year that increased the penalties for internet sexual trafficking involving minors. The change in law raised the felony crime from a Class 3 to a Class 5 felony and imposed a minimum sentence of 4-12 years, police explained.
“In today’s online world, offenders who seek to sexually exploit children can do so behind closed doors and out of public view, which is why proactive police work is so important in exposing these crimes,” Lt. Seth Robertson, who is the head of Aurora Police Department’s Special Victims Section, went on to say. “The people we encountered during this operation knew exactly what they were doing; some arrived with sexual devices, drugs or alcohol they intended to provide to or use with someone they believed to be a minor.”
Jeffrey Lutsk, 65, hailing from Aurora, was one of the men arrested, having been taken into custody on July 17. He is facing charges of internet luring of a child, internet sexual exploitation of a child, and attempted sexual assault of a child. He is in custody on $50,000 bond and is being detained at the Arapahoe County Jail.
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Frank Herman, 21, of the city of Arvada, was arrested on August 20. He is facing charges of attempted sexual assault of a child, internet luring of a child, sexual exploitation of children, patronizing a prostituted child and solicitation of child prostitution. Disturbingly, he was released in lieu of $25,000 bond, which many think is a move that puts children in the area at risk.
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