11 arrested in Montgomery County sex sting operation
Action 8 News brought you a live news conference this afternoon as Montgomery County Sheriff Derrick Cunningham and other officials announced the arrests of 11 men in a sex sting operation.
The arrests came after a coordinated law enforcement effort last Thursday and Friday, August 22-23, according to Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Assistant Chief Wesley Richerson. This comes after a similar operation eight months ago that brought 15 arrests.
Richerson said the suspects used chat rooms and social media to arrange to have sex with minors.
Of the suspects, six are from Montgomery, with one from Tallassee, one from Deatsville and the other three from out of state. Richarson said as of this afternoon, five have been released on bond while the other six remain in the Montgomery County Detention Center.
One of those arrested, 26-year-old Ryan Rhodes of Deatsville was a senior state trooper. He was charged with resisting arrest in addition to the electronic solicitation of a child and traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act.
Action 8 News received a statement from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency that said Rhodes has resigned from his position.
Richarson said that no children were put at risk in the sex sting and that decoys were used in order to make the arrests.
Montgomery County District Attorney Daryl Bailey said the men were going to hotels, planning to have sex with the children. He said that the suspects will be punished as severely as the law allows. He said that they face up to life in prison.
Bailey did express frustration that some of the suspects were able to be released on bond so easily. He called upon the Legislature to make that process more strict.
Sheriff Cunningham said he had a message for those who want to prey upon the young people of Montgomery County.
“We’re sick and tired of it,” he said. He repeated a warning he has said on prior occasions, saying to potential lawbreakers that “…if we didn’t get you this time, we will next time.”
SEE THE SUSPECTS AND THE CHARGES THEY FACE
