Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office
9119 Dean Ridings Lane Spotsylvania, Va. 22553 Phone 540.582.7115 Fax 540.582.9448
Press Release Contact: Captain Elizabeth Scott Phone: 540.507.7492
For Immediate Release February 14, 2017
As a continued partnership with the Northern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children (NOVO/DC ICAC) Task Force, members of the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office Child Exploitation Unit (CEU) arrested 11 subjects during an undercover on-line operation from October 2016- February 2017. The operation is funded by legislation and Awarded to local jurisdictions by the Virginia State Police. The Award provided overtime hours, training and equipment for deputies to target internet crimes against children. Trained members of the Sheriff’s Office CEU searched internet chatting sites and applications in search of online predators. The individuals identified and arrested initiated communication with the undercover Officers, believing that they were chatting with young teenage girls. Most of the subjects believed they were going to have a sexual encounter with a child and drove to a predetermined location within the county to meet with the juvenile. These subjects were arrested and charged with various offenses related to the solicitation of a minor child. Award funded operations like this allow local Law Enforcement to be proactive in our approach to catching predators. Online predators are a serious concern in our society today and these operations are essential in the fight against the sexual exploitation of children. The Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office and the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office are dedicated to the continued efforts to protect the youth of our community.
Those arrested were identified as follows: 1.) Colin Clayton, 21 of Spotsylvania Co., Charged with Indecent Liberties, Electronic Solicitation of a Minor, Possession of Marijuana and Driving Revoked. 2.) Mohammed Nuri, 20 of Spotsylvania Co., Charged with Indecent Liberties and Electronic Solicitation of a Minor. 3.) Thomas Petry, 28 of Spotsylvania Co., Charged with Indecent Liberties and Electronic Solicitation of a Minor. 4.) Austin Fowler, 26 of Stafford Co., Charged with Indecent Liberties and Electronic Solicitation of a Minor. 5.) Michael Silver, 20 no fixed addres, Charged with Indecent Liberties and Electronic Solicitation of a Minor. 6.) Gabriel Hester, 33 of Caroline Co., Charged with Indecent Liberties, Electronic Solicitation of a Minor and Felony Prostitution. 7.) Stephen Redford, 27 of Amelia Co., Charged with Indecent Liberties and Electronic Solicitation of a Minor. 8.) Howard Dowden, 32 of Caroline Co., Charged with Indecent Liberties and Electronic Solicitation of a Minor. 9.) Jon-Paul Snyder, 31 of Caroline Co., Charged with Indecent Liberties and Electronic Solicitation of a Minor. 10.) Reginal Johnson, 64 of Henrico Co., Charged with Indecent Liberties and Electronic Solicitation of a Minor. 11.) Michael Miller, 62 of Spotsylvania Co., Charged with Indecent Liberties and Electronic Solicitation of a Minor.
