Shelby County sting operation leads to 11 arrests

An investigation last week by a coalition including the Shelby County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force led to 11 arrests, ten of which were made in Shelby County..

According to Indiana State Police, the three day sting operation in Shelbyville targeted those who seek to exploit children online. The Shelby County Prosecutor’s office says undercover officers posed as minors and chatted with people online who were trying to target minors with unlawful activity. Most of those who were arrested traveled to Shelbyville to meet up with what they believed to be a child. One suspect was arrested for crimes in Clinton County. Prosecutors say several of those arrested had prior child sex crime histories and one was an illegal alien.

One of the suspects arrested even allegedly tried to trade methamphetamine for sexual favors with an adult.

Among the charges filed against those arrested were attempted child molesting, child solicitation, conspiracy to commit sexual misconduct with a minor as well as drug dealing charges.

Authorities say that the investigation also led them to identify an infant that was being sexually abused and to rescue that child. The child is now safe and receiving services.

Officials say that the investigation involved more than 75 officers from 21 local, state and federal agencies and task forces.

Those arrested in Shelby County:

John Michael Altman, 27, from Logansport, IN
Count I: Attempted Child Molest (Level 1 Felony)
Count II: Child Solicitation (Level 4 Felony)

Robert Owen Bland, 34, from Indianapolis, IN
Count I: Dealing in Methamphetamine, Level 2 Felony
Count II: Dealing in Cocaine, Level 4 Felony
Count III: Making Unlawful Proposition – Class A Misdemeanor
Count IV: Resisting Law Enforcement – Class A Misdemeanor

Jackson Daniel Renaker, 36, Covington, KY.
Count I: Child Solicitation – Level 4 Felony

Frederick Maxwell Walsh, 39, Bloomington, IN
Count I: Child Solicitation – Level 4 Felony

Brandon Lamont Stephens, 36, Indianapolis, IN
Count I: Child Solicitation, Level 4 Felony

Darren Stephens, 35, Greenwood, IN
Count I: Child Solicitation, Level 4 Felony

Michael Allen Shelton, 73, Shelbyville, IN
Count I: Child Solicitation, Level 4 Felony

Daniel Roy Martin, 47. Oakwood, OH
Count I: Conspiracy to Commit Sexual Misconduct with a Minor, Level 4
Felony

Fernando Coronado-Olivares, 25, no known address
Count I: Child Solicitation, Level 4 Felony

James Andrew Klimek, 58, Indianapolis, IN
Count I: Child Solicitation, Level 5 Felony

Shelby County Courthouse photo courtesy of Shelby County Prosecutor’s Office Facebook page.