Staff Reporter

LAPLACE �“ A three-week investigation conducted by an assortment of parish and state law enforcement agencies netted nine men from across the state and nation on various Internet crimes charges involving juveniles, said St. John Sheriff Wayne Jones.

According to a release from the Sheriff’s Office, Jones said his office hosted a joint online undercover sting operation where over 20 “cyber detectives” posed as minors and waited to be targeted by suspected sexual predators. “We never make first contact when we conduct these types of operations,” said Det. Toby Aguillard of the Tangipahoa Sheriff’s Office, who was part of the sting. “They come after us and it happens almost instantly.”

Jones announced the following arrests as part of the operation: Chad Wayne Raborn Jr., 21, of Amite; Saravanan Perumal, 39, of California; Jeremy W. Barr, 25, of Many, La.; Royce Eugene Adams, 53, of Shreveport; Ricky L. Hano Jr., 24, of Holden, La.; Kurtis Latiolais, 29, of St. Martinville; David S. Hartman, 36, of Cuba, Ala.; Dalton J. LaCombe, 54, of Iota, La.; and Trenton Cody Breland, 24, of Bogalusa. The nine men face charges ranging from indecent behavior with juveniles, to computer-aided solicitation of a minor for sexual purposes, to felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile.

“These arrests serve as a reminder that the Internet still poses real danger from those who would sexually exploit our children,” said Jones. “Every parent must remain vigilant in supervising and monitoring their children’s online activities.”

According to the release, eight of the nine men engaged in “sexually explicit” conversations with detectives whom they believed were underage girls. The release said some of the men asked for sex, while others described various sexual acts they wished to perform on their victims. Some also sent explicit pictures over the Internet and exposed themselves via webcam.

The highest profile arrest was that of Raborn, an employee of the Tickfaw Police Department who was found to have images of child pornography on his personal electronic equipment. Further investigation revealed evidence that Raborn had engaged in sexual activities with an underage juvenile. Raborn was arrested by Tangipahoa Parish authorities and booked with possession of pornography involving juveniles and felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile.

Aguillard, who is a member of the Louisiana Electronic and Financial Crimes Task Force, explained that area agencies try to get together two or three times a year in an effort to determine the status of investigations like this.

“It helps our detectives see who is working whom,” said Aguillard. “There are occasions where we have predators who target multiple detectives involved in an operation. It is a good opportunity to share information between departments and it also serves as a suitable training exercise for detectives new to Internet investigations.

Jones said the operation included detectives from Sheriff’s Offices in St. John, St. Charles, Tangipahoa, Assumption, Terrebonne and St. Landry Parishes, in addition to investigators from the Kenner Police Department, Tickfaw Police Department and Louisiana State Police. The State Attorney General’s Office and United States Secret Service also contributed to the sting.

“The public can remain confident that the St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office will continue to work with its partners in law enforcement to protect our children by identifying and arresting Internet predators,” Jones said.