CLARKE COUNTY, Ala. — Four men have been arrested in an undercover operation targeting the human trafficking of minors in Clarke County, the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office announced, and investigators say more arrests are expected.
The sheriff’s office said the four suspects were arrested after allegedly arranging to pay for sexual services from someone they believed to be under 16 years old.
Who was arrested
The Clarke County Sheriff’s Office identified the four men as:
- Kevin Funes, 21, of Mobile
- Aaron Casey Peel, 26, of Porterville, Mississippi
- James Wesley Havelin, 42, of Malcolm, Alabama
- Richard Eugene Smith, 54, of Mobile
All four are charged with first-degree human trafficking, electronic solicitation of a child, and traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act. Peel was also charged with resisting arrest.
The sheriff’s office said three other people allegedly committed the offense of transmitting obscene material to a minor during the operation. Additional arrests are expected in the near future.
A multi-agency operation
The Clarke County Sheriff’s Office conducted the operation in partnership with Covenant Rescue Group, an Alabama-based organization that works with law enforcement agencies on investigations aimed at people seeking to exploit children.
Several other agencies assisted, including:
- The Jackson Police Department
- The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office
- The Citronelle Police Department
- The Federal Bureau of Investigation
The sheriff’s office did not release details about where the operation took place, how long it lasted or how contact with the suspects was made. Operations of this type commonly involve investigators posing online as minors.
The charges under Alabama law
The charges filed in this case are among the most serious offenses in Alabama’s criminal code. Under state law, human trafficking in the first degree is a Class A felony, the highest category of felony in Alabama. Traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act is also classified as a Class A felony, and electronic solicitation of a child is a Class B felony.
In Alabama, a Class A felony carries a potential sentence of 10 years to life in prison, while a Class B felony carries a potential sentence of two to 20 years. Any sentence would depend on the outcome of the cases and the decisions of a judge.
Investigations remain ongoing
The sheriff’s office said the investigations involving each suspect are still ongoing and that additional charges may follow.
The sheriff’s office said in its announcement that the charges are allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
It was not immediately known whether the men had attorneys or when they are scheduled to appear in court. Bond information was not included in the announcement.
A continuing regional focus
The Clarke County operation follows similar efforts by other southwest Alabama agencies. In June, a two-day human trafficking operation in neighboring Monroe County led to the arrests of six men. Law enforcement agencies across Alabama have increasingly partnered with outside organizations and federal investigators to identify adults who try to arrange sexual contact with children online.
How parents and caregivers can help protect children
Child safety advocates encourage parents and caregivers to stay involved in children’s online activity. Common recommendations include:
- Knowing which apps, games and social media platforms children use, and who they communicate with
- Using privacy settings and parental controls on devices and accounts
- Talking openly with children about online safety and encouraging them to report anyone who makes them uncomfortable
- Watching for warning signs such as secretive device use, new gifts or money from unknown sources, or contact with older strangers
How to report suspected exploitation
Anyone with information about the possible exploitation of a child should contact local law enforcement. In an emergency, call 911. Tips about online child exploitation can also be submitted to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline at CyberTipline.org or 1-800-843-5678. The National Human Trafficking Hotline can be reached at 1-888-373-7888.
South Alabama News will update this story as additional arrests or court information become available.
