22 people were arrested as part of a child solicitation operation in Johnson County

Twenty-two people were arrested in Johnson County law enforcement's latest undercover operation to catch “child molesters.”

From Tuesday through Thursday, the Johnson County Sheriff's Office, in collaboration with the Franklin, Edinburgh and Greenfield police departments and the Johnson County District Attorney's Office, conducted another multi-day “child predator investigation.” It is the latest operation in a series of ongoing efforts to identify, arrest and charge individuals who attempt to exploit and victimize children, the sheriff's office announced in a news release Friday.

The 22 people arrested were from Pendleton, Spencer, Noblesville and Bloomington and were between 24 and 58 years old. They were arrested for child solicitation, possession of a controlled substance, public indecency and driving while suspended.

A total of 27 people have been arrested since local law enforcement began conducting canvassing campaigns in 2020. The number of arrests has risen steadily over the past four years:

• December 2020: 10 arrested
• April 2021: Eight people arrested
• May 2022: 11 people arrested
• November 2022: 20 people arrested
• April 2023: 32 people arrested
• September 2024: 22 people arrested

The sheriff's office said the success of the operations would not be possible without cooperation between local law enforcement and the district attorney's office. Johnson County Sheriff Duane Burgess, Franklin Police Chief Kirby Cochran, Edinburg Police Chief Doyne Little and District Attorney Lance Hamner have combined resources and expertise to conduct a coordinated response that addresses the “very real threat these predators pose “, says the press release.

“We continue to act urgently to prevent these individuals from harming children,” Burgess said in the release. “Every arrest we make is one less predator in our community, and that’s a step toward ensuring the safety of our children.”

Prosecutor Lance Hamner confirmed that commitment, saying the operations were “essential to stopping the exploitation of children.”

“Our partnership with law enforcement allows us to not only arrest these individuals, but also hold them accountable through the legal process,” Hamner said in the news release.

The sheriff's office also said the operation was the latest example of local authorities' “proactive approach” to combat child exploitation. Law enforcement remains committed to these efforts, knowing that “with every predator we apprehend, we prevent potential future harm to innocent children,” the release said.

The Sheriff's Office and its partner agencies will continue operations and are committed to protecting children in the community and ensuring those who seek to harm them face justice, the release said.

Suspects, charges

The following people were arrested this week during a three-day child solicitation investigation:

Ragam Ndaka Assaka, 33, of Indianapolis; Charge: advertising to children

Van Bawi Bik, 32, of Indianapolis; Charge: advertising to children

Abner Estuardo De La Cruz Contreras, 33, of Indianapolis; Charge: advertising to children

Keyton Reece Davies, 26, of Fishers; Charge: advertising to children

Zachary Richard Deralus, 24, of Indianapolis; Charge: advertising to children

Brian Sidney George, 58, of Shelbyville; Charge: advertising to children

Leroy W. Haynes, 52, of Indianapolis; Charges: solicitation of children, distribution of harmful substances, possession of a controlled substance

Maawia Saleh Ibrahim, 24, of Indianapolis; Charge: advertising to children

Dong Jian, 31, of Bargersville; Charge: advertising to children

Timothy James Maggard, 32, of Avon; Charges: soliciting children, favoring a prostitute, prostitution

Deon Dwayne McClendon, 52, of Indianpolis; Charge: advertising for children, promoting prostitution

Benjamin Paul McIntosh, 45, of New Whiteland; Charges: Solicitation of children, public indecency, possession of a controlled substance marijuana, possession of a controlled substance methamphetamine, driving while suspended

David R. Mefford, 36, of Indianapolis; Charge: advertising to children

Hernaldo Jordy Mendez-Caporal, 30, of Noblesville; Charges: soliciting children, favoring a prostitute, driving a vehicle without obtaining a driver's license

Cipriano Olmedo, 38, of Indianapolis; Charges: Solicitation of children, patronizing a prostitute, operating a vehicle without obtaining a driver's license, out-of-county warrant from Marion County

Logan Ryan Parker, 40, of Bloomington; Charge: advertising to children

Immanuel Adeva Rezkall, 31, of Fishers; Charges: soliciting children, possession of cocaine, distribution of harmful content, resisting/interfering with law enforcement

Ison Robinson, 49, of Noblesville; Charge: advertising to children

Jesus Alejandro Romero, 26, of Indianapolis; Charge: advertising to children

Cody Allen Scott, 28, of Pendleton; Charges: Solicitation of Children, Possession of a Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine

Scott A. Terrell, 57, of Spencer; Charge: advertising for children, patronizing a prostitute

Jose Roberto Velazquez-Arandia, 35, of Indianapolis; Charges: child solicitation, prostitution