Cordova police arrest 10 in undercover operation to catch sex predators

CORDOVA, AL (WBRC) - Cordova police arrested 10 Alabamians in an undercover sting to catch predators hoping to meet an underage girl for sex.

One of the suspects was a registered sex offender who was on parole after being convicted of sexually abusing a 6-year-old child.

Cordova Police Chief Nick Smith said the investigation began when an underage person complained about an older person making contact over social media.

The police department set up two fake accounts on social media sites in which both accounts appeared to be female teens under 16 years old.

Within an hour, up to 50 people had contacted the fake social media accounts. Chief Smith said he was overwhelmed by the response of people who were initiating contact and eventually, requesting to meet up for sex.

While the chief did not release the specific social media sites they used, he said that it was a typical site that anyone around or under age 16 might have. He said the fake accounts were nothing out of the ordinary.

Police said the people making contact with the fake accounts would begin private conversations.

Chief Smith said some people were very blunt and expressed their desire to have sex with the person they thought was an underage teen.

Using the fake profiles, investigators arranged to meet up with the people in various undisclosed locations around Cordova. The suspects thought they were meeting an underage female for sex, but instead were arrested.

Police arrested 10 people in the course of a month, from Jan. 1 through Jan. 31. None of the suspects were from Cordova, but some were from Walker and Jefferson counties.

The person who traveled the farthest to supposedly meet the teen for sex came from Calera in Shelby County. All of the suspects were within driving distance of Cordova, the police chief said.

The following people were arrested in the sting:

• Christopher Reno, 26, of Graysville: possession of marijuana, child solicitation by computer, unlawful possession of a concealed weapon and traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act
• David Joseph Parker, 21, of Berry (also a registered sex offender): possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance, conspiracy to commit a controlled substance crime, child solicitation by computer, traveling to meet a child for a sex act and transmitting obscene material to a child
• Jonathan Adcock, 34, of Jasper: possession of a controlled substance, child solicitation by computer, traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act
• John Lynn Hall, 48, of Oakman: possession of a controlled substance, conspiracy to commit a controlled substance crime, transmitting obscene material to a child and traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act
• Jonathan Adams, 29, of Sumiton: traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act
• Jonathan Bevill, 39, of Jasper: possession of a controlled substance and traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act
• Joshua Farr, 34, of Jasper: traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act
• Kevin Freeman, 38, of Bear Creek: transmitting obscene material to a child and traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act
• Matthew Trumbly, 29, of Calera: child solicitation by computer and traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act
• Terry Lane, 39, of Nauvoo: transmitting obscene material to a child

Chief Smith said the purpose of this sting was to catch predators and also bring awareness to the people in Cordova.

"If you have a child on social media you need to monitor their activity or not let them have it at all," Smith said.

Anyone who wants to report anything related to this case can contact the undercover officers involved in this case by emailing specialop64@yahoo.com.

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