DECATUR — A nearly two-week investigation by the Decatur Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Unit resulted in the arrests of seven north Alabama men on child sex-related charges last week.
The police department said “Operation Home Alone” started Nov. 25 with the intent to seek out individuals who prey on children. The operation began by undercover officers posing as minors online across various social media platforms.
Over the course of 10 days, Decatur police said communications were ongoing with individuals who believed they were communicating with an underage child. The men continued to pursue and arranged to meet in person for the purpose of engaging in sex acts with the child, police said.
The multi-unit effort consisted of the Decatur Police Department’s ICAC Unit, Vice Narcotics Unit, Criminal Investigation Division, Patrol Division, and SWAT team.
When the individuals arrived at the arranged meeting place, they were met by law enforcement and taken into custody.
Additionally, during the operation, the department received information about a man who filmed an underage child while the child was fully nude.
After an investigation, Jalen Jaquan Nunn, 29, of Decatur, was arrested last Friday on four counts of Production of Child Sexual Abuse Material.
At the conclusion of the operation last Friday, seven individuals, including Nunn, were charged with a total of 16 charges.
The following individuals were arrested and booked into the Morgan County Jail:
- Miguel Pedro Alonzo, 32, Decatur
Human Trafficking in the First Degree, Electronic Solicitation of a Child, Traveling to Meet a Child for an Unlawful Sex Act. He is being held with no bond due to Aniah’s Law. - Ezequiel Francisco, 20, Decatur
Francisco Traveling to Meet a Child for an Unlawful Sex Act, Electronic Solicitation of a Child. He is currently being held on a $100,000 bond.
- Jarett Manard Williams, 33, Cullman
Williams Traveling to Meet a Child for an Unlawful Sex Act, Electronic Solicitation of a Child. He is currently being held on a $90,000 bond.
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McDaniel Roger Alexander McDaniel, 30, ClevelandTraveling to Meet a Child for an Unlawful Sex Act, Electronic Solicitation of a Child. He is currently being held on a $90,000 bond.
- Dominique Oneal Strong, 30, Union Grove
Strong Transmitting Obscene Material to a Child by Computer. He is currently being held on a $50,000 bond.
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Cristobal Baltazar Sebastian Cristobal, 42, DecaturTraveling to Meet a Child for an Unlawful Sex Act, Electronic Solicitation of a Child. He is currently being held on a $90,000 bond.
- Jalen Jaquan Nunn, 29, Decatur
Nunn Four counts of Production of Child Sexual Abuse Material. He is currently being held on a $240,000 bond.
Police said other suspects failed to show at the arranged meeting times. The investigation is ongoing and more charges could be forthcoming, the department said.
“The Decatur Police Department is committed to proactively seeking out those who take advantage of the most vulnerable in our community,” the release said. “We would also like to remind parents to be vigilant to what your children are accessing on electronic devices and who they are communicating with online.
“Please talk with your children about internet safety and the dangers of sending photographs and/or personal information to individuals they have never met, even those accounts that appear to be another child.”
Law enforcement nationwide has seen an increase in sextortion cases, specifically involving young boys, who are being targeted by individuals who reside outside of the United States.
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