Men Get Stiff Sentences in Indiana Child Predator Stings

     Madison, Indiana, is probably the most perfect location in the United States to conduct a sting designed to arrest grown men who attempt to solicit 14-year-old girls online. Located directly on the border of Indiana and Kentucky, it is virtually equidistant from Louisville, Indianapolis, and Cincinnati, attracting a wide variety of men looking to prey on children. The Madison Police Department's Operation Predator Net, which took a break for a number of months but will soon be relaunched, led to the arrest of 20 individuals for felony sex crimes against children. So far, more than a dozen have pleaded guilty or been convicted at trial, and the men sentenced so far have gotten some of the stiffest sentences handed out anywhere in the country:

1. James McGill of Jackson County, Indiana, already a registered sex offender, was sentenced to 28 years in prison after being found guilty of child solicitation and attempted sexual misconduct with a minor.
2. Curtis James Imlay, of Medora, Indiana, the last man arrested thus far and also already a registered sex offender, pleaded guilty to attempted sexual misconduct with a minor (and distributing meth) and was sentenced to seven years in prison.
3. Richard Allen Deck of Kokomo, Indiana, yet another habitual offender, was sentenced to 32 years in prison after being found guilty by a jury of child solicitation, attempted sexual misconduct with a minor, and driving with a suspended license.
4. Bryton Wise of Lexington, Indiana, who also had marijuana on him and violated his bond, was sentenced to four years of probation with 10 years of sex offender registration after pleading guilty to child solicitation.
5. Matthew Sowers of North Vernon, Indiana, was sentenced to six years in prison with 10 years of sex offender registration after pleading guilty to child solicitation.

     Christopher Warren was originally charged with sex crimes and meth possession but pleaded guilty only to the latter drug charge in exchange for a prison sentence that will be determined at a later date. Ray D. Bell, who also had child sexual abuse material on his computer, and Michael Spradling still have their charges pending and are awaiting trial. The other men (Jonathan Cruz Smith, a repeat offender; John Bartlett; Ryan Perdue; Ryan Cooksey; Travis Case; Adam Gaskins; Christopher Hazelgrove; Andrew Coridan; Dillon Stewart; Jeffrey Garrett; Dennis Mothersbaugh; and George Grosse) have had their cases concluded and are awaiting sentencing. So far, the average sentence has been over 14 years, so they should be expecting to do some serious time.

     Back when Chris Hansen hosted "To Catch a Predator," these men would have pleaded guilty and been given maybe a few months behind bars. The fact that these sorts of operations are going on stronger than ever and that those convicted are overwhelmingly receiving years behind bars even when it is their first offense and decades when they are repeat offenders shows that, in that respect, some progress has been made. People are increasingly recognizing the severity and pervasiveness of internet crimes against children, which was first recognized as a threat 25 years ago next year. It is a fight that feels hopeless but one that can be won.