The volunteers went into the chatrooms with fake online screen names and waited for predators to instigate conversations with them in an effort to identify online Internet users who may be pursuing children for illegal sexual conduct.
Investigators said the predators made arrangements to meet a posed juvenile for the explicit purpose of engaging in sexual conduct at a residence located in Greenville.
Investigators said 17 people were arrested by deputies after leaving the home, and all have been charged with attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. All of the charged appeared in court on Monday morning with more charges possible in the future.
Those arrested and charged are as follows:
Joshua L. Tuttle – Franklin, Ohio Nicholas L. Bailey – Grove City, Ohio Jason F. Schoeppner – Columbus, Ohio Nathan E. Downhour – Montpelier, Indiana Robb E. Kline – Toledo, Ohio Timothy E. Isaac – Reynoldsburg, Ohio James M. Rutherford – Mainville, Ohio Ronnell D. Stephens – Ft. Wayne, Indiana Alonzo H. Wade – Greenfield, Ohio Davut Ozkan – Euclid, Ohio Mahadevaswamy A. Chandrashekaraiah – Lexington, Kentucky John W. Frantz – West Milton, Ohio Jay W. Reffner – Findlay, Ohio Kenneth J. Brinkman – Kettering, Ohio Jeffrey D. Stacy – Lebanon, Ohio Roger W. Burmmitt – Defiance, Ohio Kevin T. Westerbeck – New Lebanon, Ohio