Belpre Police Chief Mike Stump, left, and Washington County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Mark Warden listen to a comment from Noble County Sheriff Jason Mackie, center, on Monday. (Photo by Nancy Taylor)

MARIETTA — A statewide law enforcement crackdown last week on human trafficking, led by Attorney General Dave Yost’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, included Washington and Noble County felony arrests and the rescue of a sex trade victim after a suspected Belpre massage parlor was investigated.

Statewide, 160 individuals were arrested in “Operation Buyer’s Remorse,” which focused not only on arresting those trying to buy sex, but on identifying and getting resources to survivors of human trafficking. The task force work last week also will feed long-term investigations in the future.

Local law enforcement agencies across southeastern Ohio were involved in the efforts of the Southeast Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, one of Yost’s task forces operating across the state at the same time during the period of Sept. 27-30.

The Southeast Ohio task force included Washington, Noble, Morgan, Monroe, Athens and Meigs County Sheriff’s Offices, Marietta, Belpre and Athens city police departments, the Marietta College Police Department and the Noble, Washington, Morgan, Monroe and Athens County Prosecutor’s Offices. Assistance also came from the Ohio State Highway Patrol Investigative Unit, EVE Inc. and Rescue and Restore.

Noble County Sheriff Jason Mackie and Belpre Police Chief Mike Stump joined Washington County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Mark Warden and Spencer McPeek, commander of the Southeast Ohio task force, in a press conference Monday to talk about the implications of the arrests in the area and the public’s need to be informed, aware and willing to “say something if they see something,” as Stump put it.

From left, Noble County Sheriff Jason Mackie and Washington County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Mark Warden are shown with Spencer McPeek, commander of the Southeastern Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force. (Photo by Nancy Taylor)

According to a press release issued by the task force, the following people were arrested during the sweep on various charges:

* Jonathan Michael Range, 39, 117 Forest Ave., Mineral Wells, was arrested for possession of drugs and trafficking in drugs, both fifth-degree felonies; and engaging in prostitution, a first-degree misdemeanor.

After being advised of his Miranda Rights, Range admitted that he procured a prostitute to engage in sexual activity with him in exchange for “a couple subs and like 2g of bud” (suboxone and marijuana). A glass pipe commonly used to smoke methamphetamine was observed inside the vehicle he drove to the location in Washington County where he agreed to meet the prostitute. Range admitted there was a meth pipe and .21 grams of methamphetamine inside the vehicle as well.

* Richard Scott Garrott, 62, of 5248 Sycamore St., Hannibal, was arrested for engaging in prostitution, a first-degree misdemeanor, and was taken to the Washington County Jail.

After being advised of his Miranda Rights, Garrott admitted he procured a prostitute in exchange for $200 and asked the prostitute to meet him at a location in Marietta. Task force agents were able to greet him at that location.

* Jamey Lacy, 46, Zanesville, was charged with trafficking in drugs in a school zone, a third-degree felony; possession of a controlled substance, a fifth-degree felony, and soliciting, a third-degree misdemeanor. He was taken to the Noble County Jail.

* Randall Wetstone, Caldwell, was charged with weapons under disability, a third-degree felony; and possession of a controlled substance, a fifth-degree felony, and taken to the Noble County Jail.

* Ronald “Roxie” Plaster, 41, Caldwell, will be summoned on a charge of engaging in prostitution, a first-degree misdemeanor.

* Linda Inez Leccese, 29, Marietta; William Gorrell, 64, Caldwell; and Jerome Serdy, 68, Caldwell, will be summoned on a charge of soliciting, a third-degree misdemeanor.

“This is what you see when agencies cooperate,” Warden said of the summonses and arrests.

There were 11 law enforcement agencies and five prosecutors’ offices involved in the Southeast Ohio task force, Stump added.

“The cooperation among agencies was phenomenal,” he said.

The arrests for prostitution and drugs, however, don’t mean those activities are “new” to southeastern Ohio. The task force members who gathered Monday thought it may be that more people have their eyes opened, due in large part to the internet and other communications technology. Many area law enforcement agencies have anonymous tip lines on their websites.

In Belpre, for example, Stump said, one tip led to calling the task force, further investigation, then a warrant, and then rescue of a woman who did not speak English and who had no idea what it meant “to be in Ohio.” That prompted Stump to repeat a thought from earlier: “We’re not only arresting customers; we’re rescuing people out of this situation. And many of these people do not speak English. This puts people in bondage.”

The task force also noted that such operations do not really have permanent locations or customers only from the immediate area. Crime doesn’t stay long in one location, and the customers can be from places like Charleston and Columbus.

In the meantime, parents and families must cope with the kind of sexual predators that can come right into their homes – via the internet and even newer technology. There’s been a spike in video games that have chat rooms, for example, and those are the places 30-, 40- and 50-year-old predators hunt for the 11-, 12- and 13-year old kids, Warden said.

“They’re very good at targeting kids and at-risk persons,” Warden said.

He and other task force members urged parents to keep up with technology; look at parental controls on videos; find out who their kids are talking to, ask hard questions if necessary, even if it causes an uproar.

“Do what you have to, and validate it. Do it before they meet somebody and then they’re gone,” Warden said.

Noble County Sheriff Jason Mackie said he was very happy with how Operation Buyer’s Remorse went.

“The big thing is, we know people in our area do not support this. The people doing human trafficking think they can come to a rural area and get away with it easier. But we are prepared, we are well trained. And we won’t tolerate it.”

Nancy Taylor can be reached at ntaylor@newsandsentinel.com