Decatur, Town Creek men among 8 arrested in child exploitation sting

Oct. 20—A child exploitation sting by Cullman police last week resulted in the arrest of a Decatur man and Town Creek man, as well as six others.

Through cooperation with the Covenant Rescue Group, the Cullman Police Department's Investigative Division and Tactical Unit made the arrests last Friday. Police said the investigation into the arrested individuals and others is ongoing, with more charges likely to follow.

Juan Carlos Gutierrez, 41, of Decatur, was among those arrested and is charged with first-degree human trafficking, traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act, and electronic solicitation of a child, according to police.

Investigator affidavits filed in Cullman County District Court elaborate on the charges.

"Gutierrez engaged in a text-based message by cellphone with a female he believed to be fifteen years old," the affidavit reads. "Gutierrez traveled to meet with the female at a hotel after he agreed to pay $100 to engage in sexual contact with the female he believed to be a child."

Sgt. Adam Clark, Cullman Police Department's public information officer, said Thursday that although his department hasn't received many child exploitation complaints, they decided to run the sting operation with the understanding that child exploitation is a problem across the nation.

Clark urged parents to pay attention to their children's use of social media.

"There are apps that you can get to monitor your child's phone," he said. "Just make sure you're monitoring your kids' electronic devices and know what they're doing and who they're talking to."

Ryan Philip Nobriga, 31, of Town Creek, apparently didn't know who he was talking to online on Oct. 13. According to an investigator's affidavit, Nobriga responded to an internet advertisement for a sexual service and began chatting with an undercover officer posing as a 15-year-old girl.

"Nobriga acknowledged that he knew he was speaking with a 15-year-old," the affidavit reads. "He asked how much it would be for sexual intercourse and oral sex with no condom ... . The price was agreed at $150."

Nobriga was arrested after arriving at a hotel with $150 in cash, according to the affidavit. Like Gutierrez, he is also charged with first-degree human trafficking, traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act, and electronic solicitation of a child.

Court documents show Nobriga is also charged with transmitting obscene material to a child.

"Nobriga transmitted a picture of his penis to an undercover police officer, which he believed to be a 15-year-old female," the affidavit reads. "Nobriga later confirmed that the image he sent was his penis which, in whole or in part, depicts actual or simulated nudity, sexual conduct, or sadomasochistic abuse to a child."

Under Aniah's Law, defendants can be held without bond in Alabama for several offenses, including human trafficking. Guiterrez and Nobriga remained in the Cullman County Detention Center without bond on Thursday pending their pretrial detention hearings expected this week.

Six others were arrested and charged in the operation:

—Dalton Lynn Gilliland, 31, of Blountsville, was arrested and charged with traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act and electronic solicitation of a child.

—Brody Hayes Bates, 33, of Cullman, was arrested and charged with traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act and electronic solicitation of a child.

—Yovani Alan Cruz Martinex, 20, of Blountsville, was arrested and charged with traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act and electronic solicitation of a child.

—William Henry Clift, 59, of Hazel Green, was arrested and charged with traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act and electronic solicitation of a child.

—Mung Sian Kim, 31, of Cullman, was arrested and charged with first-degree human trafficking, traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act, and electronic solicitation of a child.

—Carey Andrew Kraehmer, 43, of Seymour, Tennessee, was arrested and charged with traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act, electronic solicitation of a child, enticing a child for immoral purposes, and facilitating the travel for a child for an unlawful sex act.

As of Thursday, Clark said only Bates had been released from jail. Court records show Bates, whose charges aren't subject to Aniah's Law, posted a $15,000 bond and was released last Friday.

The Covenant Rescue Group that helped with the Cullman police operation is a nonprofit based in Gardendale. According to its website, the group is comprised of former military special operators and law enforcement personnel who are committed to putting an end to human trafficking.

— david.gambino@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2438.