A 42-year-old man, Gerad Slayton, was arrested as part of an online sting targeting child sex predators.
At the time of his arrest, he was the executive director of an LGBT resource center in Modesto, California.
Slayton was charged with contacting a minor with intent for sex and arranging to meet a minor for sex.
JUST IN: Executive Director Gerad Slayton of the LGBTQ+ Rainbow Resource Center in Modesto, California was arrested on felony charges in a child predator sting for attempting to meet a minor for lewd acts. pic.twitter.com/WnBoufo6VD
— Jason Jones (@jonesville) January 17, 2024
The center confirmed his termination and emphasized that the allegations did not occur during working hours.
The sting operation involved multiple agencies and aimed to catch predators seeking sexual activity with underage children.
The center stated that it was “committed to maintaining a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for all members of our community. We want to assure our community that we take these allegations with the utmost seriousness.”
“Mr. Slayton’s actions do not represent our organization’s values or mission. Following our unwavering commitment to upholding the highest standards of conduct and integrity, we have addressed the issue,” the statement added.
“The mission of this operation was to catch predators that were seeking to meet with underaged children for the purpose of sexual activity. This operation was complex in nature and involved the coordinated effort of multiple agencies and various police department units,” a news release read.
Law enforcement officials emphasized the ongoing risk and advised parents to supervise and educate their children about online dangers.
“This operation was the culmination of months of planning by the Turlock Police Department and cooperating agencies. I am proud of Detective Gina Giovacchini and our team for their efforts to intercept those looking to harm children in our community,” Turlock Police Chief Jason Hedden said.
“This problem isn’t going away,” Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Amar Gandhi said. “While 17 arrests are very significant, it’s a drop in the bucket.
“Even some of these innocent online games have conversation features. Predators know about it and prey on everybody,” Gandhi said.
Read Also:
Two Names Emerge As Trump’s Possible 2024 Running Mate
2024 Miss America Winner Crowned
