Ten suspects have been charged with soliciting children online following an operation conducted by the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with other local, state, and federal agencies. A news release from the Sheriff’s Office says through Operation Catawba Net, investigators worked alongside state, local, and federal partners to locate and arrest those attempting to prey on children.
This three-day operation led to 10 arrests and dozens of felony charges. Arrested and charged were 26-year-old Thomas Davonte Ellerbe of Morrisville, 72–year-old Douglas Peter Hess of Conover, 59-year-old George Wriston Payne of Morrisville, 70-year-old Kim Harlan Harris of Lincolnton, 56-year-old William Patrick Abernathy of Newton, 44-year-old Ronan Roblero Bartolon of Conover, 61-year-old Carroll Randol Woodie, Jr. of Hickory, 58-year-old Robert Gaspare Micciulla of Valdese, 51-year-old George Eleftheriadis of Marion, and 41-year-old Justin Dean Akers of Newport, Virginia.
All of the suspects are charged with solicit a child by computer to commit a sex act. Several of the suspects face additional charges. The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by several local agencies, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Secret Service, and the FBI.
Rob Eastwood-WHKY contributed to this story