Top Row from left to right: Durell Keith Shaw, George Lizotte, Albert Anthony Olvera, Kevin Harry Moninger, Paul John Carlton
Bottom Row from left to right: James David Earnest, Daniel Eugene Martin, Justin Donald Harryman, Warren Mitchell Gillespie
An undercover sting operation targeting use of the internet to lure minors for sexual exploitation has resulted in nine arrests, seven of them involving Mohave County residents. The sheriff’s office, with support from other area law enforcement agencies, has been conducting the investigation through social media for the past several months.
“These appalling individuals are predators,” said Sheriff Doug Schuster. “They are the filth of our society and every effort will be made to ensure these monsters are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Two suspects nabbed in the sting operation have already pleaded guilty to luring a minor for sexual exploitation and attempted sexual conduct with a minor. Durell Keith Shaw, 33, Las Vegas, and George Lizotte, 72, Bullhead City, face 5-10 year prison terms at sentencing hearings scheduled May 30 and May 17, respectively.
Deputy county attorney Greg McPhillips explained how the sting operation was conducted during Lizotte’s April 16 change of plea hearing. He told Judge Derek Carlisle that an undercover officer posed as a 13-year-old girl, leaving a phone number on a Craigslist ad.
McPhillips said Lizotte used the number last fall to continue to communicate by texting with the officer whom he presumed was a teenage girl. McPhillips said Lizotte detailed sexual activity he wanted to engage in and asked that nude images be sent to him. Others arrested for various charges resulting from the sting operation include Albert Anthony Olvera, 79, Bullhead City; Kevin Harry Moninger, 63, Las Vegas; Paul John Carlton, 33, Kingman; James David Earnest, 56, Bullhead City, Daniel Eugene Martin, 33, Lake Havasu City; Justin Donald Harryman, 39, Kingman and Warren Mitchell Gillespie, 45, Lake Havasu City.
