An undercover online sting run by Noblesville police last week ended with four men in cuffs, after detectives posing as teenagers say they caught adults trying to arrange sexual encounters with minors.
Officials say the operation took place during the week of July 13-16 and wrapped up yesterday. According to a post from the Noblesville Police Department, investigators arrested Jordan Stites, 38, Jun Jie Piao, 38, Jamal Courtney, 44, and Matthew Burton, 33. All four were taken to the Hamilton County Jail on preliminary counts that include child solicitation (I.C. 35-42-4-6), attempted sexual misconduct with a minor (I.C. 35-42-4-9) and, in Piao’s case, promotion of child sex trafficking (I.C. 35-42-3.5-1.2).
The Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office will now review each case and decide what formal charges to file. Police directed media questions to the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office at (317) 776-8595. Noblesville Police list Lieutenant Bruce A. Barnes as the public information officer; he can be reached at [email protected] in department materials.
How the Operation Worked
According to the same post from the Noblesville Police Department, detectives went online posing as juveniles ages 13 to 15 on various apps and websites. Investigators say they focused on adults who kept communicating after learning, or believing, they were talking to a minor. Police allege some of those adults then set up meetings or otherwise showed intent to engage in illegal sexual activity with the purported teens.
What the Charges Mean
Indiana classifies felonies by numbered levels, each with its own advisory sentencing range. Promotion of child sex trafficking is a Level 3 felony, which carries a possible penalty of roughly three to sixteen years. A Level 4 felony carries about two to twelve years, and a Level 5 felony carries about one to six years, under state guidance. Any actual sentence would depend on the final charges, any aggravating or mitigating factors, and the judge’s decision. Indiana Code
Part of a Broader Regional Push
Police say this latest sting is part of a continuing Central Indiana effort to crack down on online child exploitation. Noblesville ran a similar undercover operation in March that led to two arrests, according to Current Publishing. A separate multi-agency ICAC operation in Boone County earlier this summer also produced arrests as local departments coordinate online investigations, with regional television outlets documenting that sweep.
Who to Contact
Officials urge anyone with information or concerns to contact the Noblesville Police Department or the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office. The department lists Lieutenant Bruce A. Barnes at [email protected] for media inquiries. If a child is in immediate danger, call 911. For non-emergency questions or case-related inquiries, the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office can be reached at (317) 776-8595. Listings in Noblesville Police and county materials include those contacts.
