Local operation targeted child sex offenders

The Shelby County Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force was part of a joint operation that arrested 11 individuals last week in a three-day sting.

The operation was spearheaded by the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), the Shelby County Prosecutor’s Office, the Shelby County ICAC Task Force, the Indiana State Police, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department, the Shelbyville Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations.

The investigation involved over 75 police officers and agents from 21 local, state, and federal agencies and task forces.

This is the first large-scale investigation involving the Shelby County ICAC Task Force, and it collected 11 alleged offenders (the previous ICAC record for such an investigation was eight arrests.) The investigations involved undercover officers posing as minors “chatting” online with people seeking to target minors for unlawful activity.

Most of those apprehended traveled to Shelbyville to meet with minors while expecting sexual activity (and two were apprehended in other counties, and one came to trade methamphetamine for sexual favors with an adult).

As a result of these investigative efforts, law enforcement identified and rescued an infant from sexual abuse. The child is safe and receiving services. The alleged offender is in custody as a result of this investigation and charges are pending in the other county, as their offense is still under investigation.

Several had prior child sex crime histories, one was an illegal alien, and one is an attorney. Those arrested in Shelby County are:

• John Michael Altman, age 27, from Logansport, Ind.
• Robert Owen Bland, 34, Indianapolis, Ind.
• Jackson Daniel Renaker, 36, Covington, Ky.
• Frederick Maxwell Walsh, 39, Bloomington, Ind.
• Brandon Lamont Stephens, 36, Indianapolis, Ind.
• Darren Stephens, 35, Greenwood, Ind.
• Michael Allen Shelton, 73, Shelbyville, Ind.
• Daniel Roy Martin, 47, Oakwood, Ohio
• Fernando Coronado-Olivares, 25, no known address
• James Andrew Klimek, 58, Indianapolis, Ind.

One additional person was arrested in Clinton County from this investigation, though he faces charges only in Clinton County.

“This is an important area of law enforcement that must be dealt with aggressively, and that’s exactly what this team did. I was very impressed with how the investigation was organized and conducted,” said Shelbyville Police Department Deputy Chief of Investigations Robert Brinkman.

Shelby County Sheriff Chris Holder added: “The collaboration of so many law enforcement entities in this operation was beyond impressive. My deputies and I were happy to participate in this investigation to target those who target Shelby County kids. As I have said repeatedly, as Sheriff, I am dedicating resources specifically to these type of investigations to keep Shelby County children safe from these type of predators.”

Parents are encouraged to closely monitor their children’s on-line activities.

“I want to commend each and every law enforcement officer/agent/task force who was involved in this operation,” said Shelby County Prosecutor Brad Landwerlen (photo). “Their genuine dedication to protecting children is incredible – particularly for the federal officers involved who worked each evening until the early morning hours while not getting paid. I also want to thank Deputy Prosecutor Brandon Robinson for all he did in helping to guide this investigation to such a successful outcome.”

In you suspect human trafficking or sexual exploitation, report it immediately to the local Sheriff’s office, police department of 911.

For more information, visit the ICAC Task Force website at https://internetcrimesagainstkids.com/

For suspected trafficking of minors, call the Indiana DCS Child Abuse and Neglect hotline at 1-800-800-5556.

The National Human Trafficking Hotline is 1-888-373-7888 or text “HELP” or “INFO” to 233733.

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