23 arrested in multi agency undercover sexual predator sting operation

DAVIDSON COUNTY, N.C. —

Davidson County Sheriff Richie Simmons says 23 people have been arrested, all accused of traveling to Davidson or Forsyth County with the intent of having sex with children.

Sheriff Simmons said Operation Millstone, run by the Invictus Task Force, took place during a five-day period last month. The Invictus Task Force consists of investigators from law enforcement agencies across the state.

Investigators took over several rooms at the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office and Kernersville Police Department, using computers to target who Simmons calls predators seeking to engage in sexual acts with children.

Investigators say some of the suspects thought they were speaking to victims as young as 13 years old.

Most of the individuals arrested are from Davidson and Forsyth Counties, but there was one person from as far away as Bethlehem, Georgia.

Alamance County Sheriff Terry Johnson made a passionate plea to lawmakers to pass tougher punishments for sexual predators.

Johnson said, “These are sick individuals, folks. When you mess with our kids, you have made me and law enforcement very mad, and they should be. These guys here need to go to prison. Secondly, we need legislators and our leaders to take a step forward to stiffen the penalties for these people."