Police: 8 Hudson Valley Men Arranged to Have Sex With Children
Eight men from the Hudson Valley were arrested in an undercover operation after they allegedly made plans to have sex with a child.
On Monday, Ulster County Sheriff Paul J. VanBlarcum reported multiple arrests as a result of a child predator identification and enforcement operation.
In September, Ulster County Sheriff's Office detectives, special agents and investigators conducted an undercover operation in the Town of Ulster.
Eight men from the Hudson Valley made arrangments to have sex with a child, police say. However, when the came to meet the child, they instead met undercover police officers to engage in sex with a child.
The following people were arrested and charged with:
Eric S. Decker, 42, of Kingston
•Attempted Criminal Sexual Act 2nd degree (felony)
•Attempted Disseminating Indecent Material to Minors 1st degree (felony)
Michael A. Sweeney, 51, of Kingston
•Attempted Criminal Sexual Act 2nd degree (felony)
Ian D. Troxell, 38, of Woodstock
•Attempted Criminal Sexual Act 2nd degree (felony)
Michael J. Minnerly, 19, of Clinton Corners
•Attempted Rape 2nd degree (felony)
Travis M. Sammeth, 34, of Newburgh
• Attempted Criminal Sexual Act 2nd degree (felony)
Elroy M. Gould III, 46, of Unionville
•Attempted Rape 2nd degree (felony)
•Attempted Criminal Sexual Act 2nd degree (felony)
•Attempted Patronizing a Prostitute 2nd degree
Joseph K. Simon, 36, of Kingston
•Attempted Criminal Sexual Act 2nd degree (felony)
Dana J. Tompkins, 59, of Rhinebeck
•Attempted Rape 2nd degree (felony)
All were remanded to the Ulster County Jail. Members of the Ulster County Sheriff's Office, the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force, Town of Ulster Police Department, the Ulster Regional Gang Enforcement Narcotics Team and New York State Police worked together to arrest the men.
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