One Columbus child advocate applauds online sexual predator sting that netted 19 arrests
COLUMBUS, Ga. () — There are 19 men sitting in the Muscogee County Jail right now facing human trafficking charges for trying to have sex with minors.
They were arrested as part of a Muscogee County Sheriff's Office multi-agency online sting called 'Operation Lights Out.'For one local advocate for the young girls and boys who are the victims of crimes like this, news of the arrests is a victory.
Bobbi Starr/Executive Director Micah's Promise
'This is the exact thing that has needed to happen for a very long time, going after the perpetrator, the ones who drive the crimes against children and that are the perpetrator, the johns, the buyers of sex, that drive this issue of human trafficking of children. And they have faced no consequences.'
Bobbi Starr runs Micah's Promise, a Columbus non-profit organization that helps minors caught up in sex trafficking. She has seen law enforcement turn away from charging the minors to targeting the buyers.And Monday's sting operation led by the Muscogee County Sheriff's Office and the GBI was just the type of focus on the problem she has been praying for.
'And the only way to stop this and stop them is to give them really harsh consequences, because really the children are the only ones who have been facing the consequences,' Starr said.
Sheriff Greg Countryman also sees it that way.'The young boys and young girls involved, they are not the criminals, they're the victims,' he said. 'And right now what we want to do is that we want to be that voice for them. We want to be the person who will fight for them. We want to be the person who will advocate for them.'
Those arrested ranged in age from 21 years old to 68. They came to Columbus from the local area and as far away as Illinois seeking sex with minors. They were lured by an online law enforcement operation that did not include children.
District Attorney Don Kelly acknowledges this was a small step. 'This is the tip of the iceberg,' he said. 'This is what we see in a four-day operation. There's a lot more individuals out there who are willing to take advantage of children.'
'Exponentially more,' Starr said. 'This is the tip of the iceberg. This is nothing. Thousands, you know. In the end, the charges here. Here's also what I'm going to be watching and what I'm super hopeful. I heard our district attorney say that he is going to the highest letter of the law, that he is going to hold them to the highest charges possible. I want to see those human trafficking charges. He can win those cases.'
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