Operation Nets 14 Arrests in Apache Junction
APACHE JUNCTION, AZ — A multi-agency operation targeting adult online predators seeking to engage in illicit sexual activities with children resulted in 14 arrests and over 39 felony charges, Apache Junction police officials announced at a press conference discussing “Operation Stranger Things.”
“One of the things that we had never done here in the city of Apache Junction is an operation to this scale,” said Apache Junction Police Chief Mike Pooley. “The Pinal County Attorney’s office has been incredible for us because they are the ones that carry this case forward to make sure that these individuals are handled appropriately.”
The two-day operation, conducted on January 10th and 11th, aimed to identify and apprehend individuals attempting to lure minors for sexual purposes. Officials waited nearly a month to announce the results, allowing time for all suspects to be charged with crimes. The operation involved 13 partner agencies, including multiple police departments, federal agencies like the FBI and Homeland Security, state organizations, the Pinal County Attorney’s Office, and several non-governmental organizations dedicated to preventing human trafficking.
Chief Pooley noted that these 14 individuals traveled distances up to 50 miles to Apache Junction, believing they were meeting juveniles under the age of 14.
Suspects Came Prepared with Disturbing Items
Commander Cindy Ewer, who led the operation, revealed that the suspects were all male, ranging in age from 23 to 59. “These are everyday people interacting in our community,” Ewer said. “One was a military veteran, another was a youth sports coach, and many have children at home that they are raising — some the same ages as those they were coming to Apache Junction to have sexual contact with.”
Ewer described a particularly disturbing case where one suspect arrived late because he had been cleaning out the back of his SUV to create “a makeshift bed” for a planned encounter with what he believed was a 14-year-old. The man brought alcohol and was armed with a handgun.
“Some showed up with drugs, some with snacks for kids, some with toys,” Ewer added. “Some came for sexual gratification, while others offered money to children online for sex.”
One Suspect Placed on ICE Detainer
Pinal County Attorney Brad Miller confirmed that all 14 individuals have been charged, with one suspect placed on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer after being identified as a non-U.S. citizen during the standard booking process.
“As part of our general booking process, certain biographical information and questions are asked,” Miller explained. “Through that standard operating procedure, we discovered that this individual was not a citizen of the United States, and at that point, the individual was turned over to immigration services.”
Miller Pushes for Stronger Laws Against Child Predators
Miller highlighted a significant legal challenge in prosecuting these cases. Currently, when undercover officers pose as minors to lure potential predators, the offense is a “probation eligible crime” in Arizona.
“I think most people in our community would be shocked and appalled that we cannot hold these individuals accountable,” Miller said. “We have assisted Senator Shamp with a bill that currently went through the Senate and will be going to the House in a couple of weeks to change the definition of dangerous crime against children to include cases where an undercover police officer acts as that lure.”
Miller expressed hope that Governor Katie Hobbs would sign the legislation into law, saying, “We hope and beg that Governor Hobbs will sign this into law.” He explained that a recent change in the law meant that a luring charge involving an undercover officer cannot be charged as a dangerous crime against children under statute 13-705, but only as a regular felony offense.
This change would allow prosecutors to charge these individuals with felonies that carry prison sentences rather than probation. Miller emphasized that child sex trafficking, which was among the charges in some cases, carries a potential life sentence.
Future Operations and New Special Victims Unit Planned
Looking ahead, both the Apache Junction Police Department and the Pinal County Attorney’s Office plan to continue these operations. Miller announced the creation of a new special victims unit at the Pinal County Attorney’s Office specifically to handle these types of cases.
“That unit will consist of trained individuals, officers, county attorneys, and other individuals to assist so that we can attempt to eradicate this type of behavior from our community,” Miller said.
Commander Ewer noted that the operation’s planning process was extensive, requiring collaboration with the Pinal County Attorney’s Office from the beginning. “It’s imperative that we work with our non-government organizations… but really we can’t do it alone,” she said. “We have the Pinal County Attorney’s office on board right from the very beginning so that we knew when we went to prosecute these cases we would have successful prosecutions.”
While the initial operation took 6-9 months to plan, Ewer indicated that future operations could be conducted more quickly now that they have developed expertise in this area.
Advice for Parents
Police officials urged parents to monitor their children’s social media activities, with Ewer warning that some suspects had sought to engage with children as young as 7 years old.
“I bring that up as a reminder to parents to keep an eye on your children’s social media, interact with your kids, find out what they’re doing on a daily basis, and look at their social media,” she advised.
