Six men arrested in sting by Copperas Cove police and AG Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Unit
Special to Leader-Press
AUSTIN – Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that the Child Exploitation Unit and Human Trafficking Unit of his office, in a partnership with Copperas Cove Police Department, arrested five men for online solicitation of a minor and one man for prostitution during a three-day operation to locate and arrest online predators. The arrested suspects include:
Josef James Dilly, 31, of Copperas Cove, arrested November 20 on one count of online solicitation of a minor.
Victor Manuel Vascot, 45, of Killeen, arrested November 20 on one count of online solicitation of a minor.
Isaac Figueroa Jr., 28, of Round Rock, arrested on November 21 on one count of online solicitation of a minor.
Justin Earl Kepler, 31, of Lampasas, arrested on November 21 on one count of online solicitation of a minor.
Jesse Franklin Quidachay, 37, of Copperas Cove, arrested on November 21 on one count of online solicitation of a minor.
Demerick Deon Hearne, 47, of Copperas Cove, arrested November 20 on one count of prostitution.
“The grotesque targeting of children is a nationwide issue, and this serves as a reminder that our communities must remain vigilant to protect the most vulnerable from exploitation,” said Attorney General Paxton. “I thank the hard-working investigators with my office’s Child Exploitation Unit and Human Trafficking Unit, and the brave police officers of Copperas Cove Police Department for stopping these child-predators from potentially harming more innocent children.”
Attorney General Paxton’s office works to protect children by using the latest technology to track down online predators. Since its inception, the Child Exploitation Unit has made 264 arrests and obtained 194 convictions on charges of Online Solicitation of a Minor.
Attorney General Paxton urges all parents and teachers to become aware of the risks children face on the internet and take steps to help ensure their safety. If you suspect someone is producing or downloading child pornography, you can report it to NCMEC.
For more information on cyber safety, please visit: https://texasattorneygeneral.gov/initiatives/cyber-safety/.