JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters held a news conference Thursday to discuss a recent multi-agency investigation that resulted in the arrests of 24 men, including a former JSO civilian employee.
Waters said the goal of the undercover investigation, dubbed “Operation Rescue Our Children,” was to identify and arrest suspects who solicit children to engage in sexual acts using electronic devices.
“Our children deserve our protection. And JSO and our partner agencies will continue to conduct these sting operations to stop child predators from harming our kids,” Waters said.
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The operation began on May 13 and ended on May 18.
According to Waters, the suspects solicited sexual activity and committed to engage in sex acts with people whom they believed were children at prearranged locations.
The men arrested range in age from 21 to 61 years old.
Waters said that among the 24 men who were arrested was Kyle Judd.
Judd, a registered sex offender, was previously arrested in 2016 during another JSO child solicitation operation, Operation Blue Hawk. According to Waters, Judd traveled to a pre-arranged location with the intent of engaging in sexual conduct with a 13-year-old.
Greg Bethel, a JSO civilian supply specialist, was also among the men arrested, according to Waters.
According to Waters, Bethel was arrested on one count of traveling after using a computer to lure a child, one count of solicitation of a child via computer to engage in sexual conduct, and one count of unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
“Bethel’s arrest shocks the conscience of this agency, and JSO is pleased to no longer count Bethel as an agency employee,” Waters said.
Ray Scarborough, an active duty Navy sailor, was also arrested. Waters said he traveled with the intent of engaging in sexual activity with a 13-year-old child.
As detectives continue to follow leads in this investigation, Waters said he anticipates additional arrests.
“Our investigators, along with those of partnering agencies, will continue to proactively identify and apprehend child predators before they have an opportunity to act upon their perversions,” Waters said.
Investigators and agents from the State Attorney’s Office, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, the Lake City Police Department, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, United States Secret Service and the US Attorney’s Office helped JSO in the investigation.
