Three men were arrested after each drove to a hotel, thinking they were going to engage in sexual acts with children following conversations on social media.
Earlier this month, investigators with the Louisiana State Police Special Victims Unit went undercover on social media to identify and arrest those looking to have sexual contact with children. The following arrests were a result of the investigation.
Troopers say on December 6, 34-year-old Brian E. Thomas, of Lake Arthur, and 57-year-old Quentin D. Coley, of Greensburg, separately drove to a local hotel after believing they agreed to pay money to engage in sexual acts with an adult female and a 13-year-old child. Both men were arrested and each booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center with prostitution, prostitution involving persons under 17, and computer-aided solicitation of a minor. Bond was set at $12,500 each.
Troopers say on December 20, 55-year-old James Hankins, of Sulphur, drove to a local hotel after believing he agreed to pay to have sex with an adult female, a thirteen-year-old child and two seven-year-old children. Troopers arrested Hankins with the assistance of the Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office and DeRidder City Police Department. Hankins was booked into the Beauregard Parish Jail with prostitution, prostitution involving persons under 17, computer-aided solicitation of a minor, and indecent behavior with a juvenile. Bond was set at $300,000.
Hankins had previously been arrested in Calcasieu Parish for pornography involving juveniles as well as obscenity.
The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information about individuals engaged in crimes affecting the welfare of children, including the distribution or possession of child pornography, is asked to call the Louisiana State Police Special Victims Unit at 318-487-5099 or to report it online by visiting www.lsp.org and clicking the suspicious activity link.
