Fairfax County Police Bust 7 Sexual Predators In Undercover Operation

On By Littum

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Fairfax County, VA. And A multi-day operation targeting online predators has led to the arrest of seven people accused of criminal meetings with minors, including two teachers.

The operation, which was announced on Tuesday by the Fairfax County police, focused on identifying offenders who allegedly used online platforms to initiate inappropriate conversations with people they thought were minors.

Six of the men are from DMV and one is from New York, police say. They are accused of coming to Fairfax County with plans to commit sexual acts, but were greeted by detectives.

“Our very own detectives actually make up as young people. Our detectives are required by the law to identify themselves as a child they are obliged to talk about specific sex acts. There is no capture associated with these operations at all,” said Chief Kevin Davis. “We are remarkably transparent to people requesting sex from children and then, in FAC, after creating a probable cause, we arrange to meet this predator and we arrest.”

What we know

Suspects and accusations:

The seven suspects range from ages 24 to 50. They face a total of 25 crimes combined.

  • Chad Hockman, 50, from Warrenton was arrested and charged with the request of a minor and contributed to a minor criminal.
  • Carlos Antonio Saenz, 47, from Manassas was arrested and charged with the request of a minor and unseemly freedom with a minor.
  • Gustavo Ramos Cahuaya, 28, from Sterling was arrested and charged with calling for a minor who contributed to a minor criminal and the production of sexual abuse material.
  • Richard Joseph Berkowitz, 36, from Fairfax was arrested and charged with four counts for the request of a minor and two counts of the production of sexual abuse of children. Berkowitz was hired as a Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) teacher at Falls Church High School. Berkowitz was placed on suspension of the allegations and remains suspended. He has been employed by FCPS as a teacher since 2013.
  • Enrique Montesflores Espana, 48, from Arlington was arrested and charged with the request of a minor and contributed to a minor criminal.
  • Charles Stephen Wolf, 24, from Washinton, DC was arrested and charged with three counts of the request of a minor, use of the vehicle to promote illegal sexual intercourse with a minor and unseemly freedom with a minor.
  • Geoffrey Testa, 45, from New York is indicted for four counts for the request of a minor and the production of sexual abuse of children. Testa is employed as a teacher at Amherst Central High School in Buffalo, new. Testa is held at Erie County Correctional Facility in New York. Upon completion of the legal process, he will be handed over to Fairfax County.

Fairfax County -The Teacher Arrested in Sting

Now suspended:

Of the seven suspects, two have confirmed ties to schools. In the middle of the accusations, 36-year-old Richard Berkowitz has been suspended from Fairfax County Public Schools. He was a teacher with Falls Church High School, according to Fairfax County Police.

“We also understand that this is troubling news for our community. I am so sorry we have to report news of this species. We have 40,000 employees who come to school every day and work in FCPs for Securing world -class education for our students and our commitment to keep our students in safety while ensuring that world -class education continues as an important priority, “FCPS superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid Tuesday.

Geoffrey Testa, 45, from New York was also confirmed by police to be a teacher.

Message process

Communication with Parents:

In less than a week, two cases involving FCPs employees have been announced by Fairfax County Police. Last Friday, police announced that 47-year-old John Barger is facing two counts with sharpened sexual battery.

Barger, a FairView -Ground School Teacher, is accused of sexual assault by two students on separate occasions.

On Tuesday, Chief Davis turned to the partnership that FCPD has with FCPS when it comes to notifying the community when studies take place involving an employee or student.

“I myself am the parent of four. I think we all understand the mood behind messages but we will be right when we say someone’s name aloud. We will not ever withdraw on claims because we were ‘t in condition to develop a probable cause and it is anyone’s reputation injured forever.

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