An undercover online operation where Noblesville detectives posed as teenagers on popular social apps and websites ended with two arrests this week in Hamilton County, police said.
The sting ran last week and led to arrests in both Noblesville and nearby Carmel. According to the department, the cases are still under review while the Hamilton County prosecutor's office decides whether to file formal charges.
As reported by WTHR, the Noblesville Police Department said the operation resulted in the arrest of a 26-year-old Noblesville man and a 40-year-old Carmel man. The Noblesville man was booked on preliminary felony counts of child solicitation and attempted sexual misconduct with a minor. The Carmel man faces preliminary counts of child solicitation, attempted sexual misconduct with a minor and three counts of neglect of a dependent, according to police.
Noblesville Police Chief Brad Arnold told WTHR, "The investigation and prosecutor assistance show we are actively pursuing those who attempt to lure and prey on children." Investigators said detectives repeatedly made clear in the decoy accounts that they were juveniles, yet "numerous" individuals continued communicating after being told the contacts were underage. That is what pushed detectives to move forward with arrests during the weeklong probe, according to police.
How the sting worked
Detectives say they created decoy profiles representing teens ages 13 to 15, then engaged with users on apps and websites commonly used for social messaging. When suspects allegedly continued sexualized conversations after being told the accounts were underage, investigators gathered evidence and moved in with arrests during the operation.
Local pattern and resources
Hamilton County agencies have run similar coordinated online operations in recent years, using a regional task-force approach to track suspected child predators. A May 2025 multi-agency effort by Fishers police and partners targeted suspects under the same framework. A May 2025 sting that snared eight suspects shows how nearby departments pool resources for these kinds of investigations.
If you suspect exploitation, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children accepts reports through its CyberTipline.
What happens next
The Hamilton County prosecutor's office will review the investigative materials and decide whether to file formal charges, officials said.
The men who were arrested are presumed innocent unless and until they are formally charged and convicted in court. Noblesville police say the inquiry remains active while detectives continue follow-up work tied to the sting.
