By Angela Hatton / Chris Taylor
Paducah, KY – Paducah Police are touting their first round of charges from its new Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) branch. Police have charged nine men with using electronic communication to try to procure sex from a minor. The charges follow a six month internet investigation and sting. Detective Mike Wentworth posed as a fourteen-year-old girl in an online chat room. Wentworth says the men initiated explicit conversations. "That would include sending explicit pictures of themselves to me as a fourteen year old girl and requesting pictures sexually explicit pictures of me as a fourteen year old girl." Seven of the men are from Kentucky, one is from Illinois, and one is from Montana. Two remain at large. Detective Wentworth says several other chat room investigations are ongoing.
55-year-old Michael L. Humphrey, of Kirksey
30-year-old Robert G. Tronge, of Paducah
38-year-old Brian D. Paul, of Babb, Montana
28-year-old Jarred M. Collins, of Clay
28-year-old John M. Anderson, of Glasgow
23-year-old Brandon R. Frederick, of Barbourville
46-year-old Jasper E. Jennings, Jr., of Lexington
22-year-old Nathan M. Watson, of Rockford, Illinois
53-year-old Lawrence W. Ziegler, of Louisville