POLK COUNTY, MN (trfnews.i234.me) – A joint investigation by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and Minnesota Bureau of Apprehension has resulted in five arrests for child sex solicitation. The sting operation targeted individuals who used online platforms to solicit children.
According to a sheriff’s office press release, Joseph Robert Thompson, 23, and Trey Kyle Soder, 34, both of Crookston, were arrested on Tuesday, Oct. 15. They are accused of felony soliciting a child — or someone believed to be a child — through electronic communication to engage in sexual conduct.
The crime has a maximum five-year sentence. Earlier in the undercover chat operation designed to identify online sexual solicitors of children, 45 individuals were investigated throughout the U.S. and Canada. Three arrests were made in September.
Telesforo Lacambra Ragrag, a 53-year-old from Thief River Falls, was charged with soliciting a child or someone believed to be a child through electronic communication, and distributing material related to sexual conduct with a child. Kaden James Marquart, a 21-year-old from Grand Forks, was charged with soliciting.
Mark Richard Olson, a 45-year-old from Twin Valley, Minnesota, was also charged with soliciting. The investigations are ongoing and no further information is being released at this time.
The Crookston Police Department, Minnesota Safe Harbor, and Pine to Prairie Drug Task Force assisted in the investigation. The sheriff’s office urges parents to be proactive and monitor their children’s electronic devices, social media apps, and internet use.
Applications identified as sources of current high activity of individuals engaging in sexual contact with children include Snapchat, Kik, Whisper, Meet24, Meetme, Grindr, and Bumble. Parents should always be aware of what their children’s internet activity is,” the release said.
“Parents should be extra aware of dating applications on their children’s device, as some of these applications may not appear to be for dating activities.” Anyone who suspects their child is being solicited is encouraged to report it to their local law enforcement.
Telesforo Lacambra Ragrag