Nine men indicted in Morgan County human trafficking sting
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McCONELSVILLE — A 10-month investigation into human trafficking in Southeast Ohio resulted in nine indictments, the Ohio Attorney General's Office announced in a news release Thursday.
It was a joint investigation between Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, Morgan County Sheriff Douglas McGrath and the Southeastern Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force.
"This task force waded into a cesspool of alleged men who were trafficking a juvenile victim and sexually exploiting children — pure filth," Yost said. "Sheriff McGrath, Sheriff Mincks and the Southeastern Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force are making it clear that this criminal behavior isn't welcome in their counties."
Information was provided to the Southeastern Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force last August that indicated Rusty Campbell of McConnelsville was trafficking a juvenile in exchange for money, methamphetamine and other favors, according to the release.
During an investigation into Campbell, the task force found that Campbell was allegedly having sex with other juveniles, creating child pornography and sharing videos of child sex abuse in an online group.
A Morgan County grand jury indicted Campbell on one count of rape, five counts of human trafficking, 27 counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor and two counts of sexual conduct with a minor.
The Ohio Attorney General's Office lists the following charges for eight additional individuals in connection to Campbell's case:
Daniel Charles was indicted on one count of human trafficking, 20 counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor and compelling prostitution.
Caleb Clemens was indicted on one count of human trafficking, corruption of a minor and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
Cody Dingey was indicted on one count of human trafficking and two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
Dustin Harlow was indicted on one count of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
Matthew Haynes was indicted and pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. He was sentenced to three years in prison and will be required to register as a sex offender upon release. The Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations and the Columbus Division of Police assisted with Haynes’ arrest.
Tyler Matheney was indicted on one count of human trafficking, three counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor and two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
Brian O’Neil was indicted and pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and one count of importuning. He will be sentenced Aug. 2.
Dean Smith was indicted on eight counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor and four counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
The investigation is ongoing. Those with information pertaining to the investigation or knowledge of other victims are asked to contact the task force through the Washington County Sheriff’s Office at 740-376-7070 or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888.
The Southeastern Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force is led by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and includes the Marietta City Police Department, Marietta College Police Department, Washington County Prosecutor’s Office, Noble County Sheriff’s Office, Noble County Prosecutor’s Office, Morgan County Sheriff’s Office, Morgan County Prosecutor’s Office, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Monroe County Prosecutor’s Office, Athens County Sheriff’s Office, Athens Police Department, Athens County Prosecutor’s Office, Meigs County Sheriff’s Office and the Meigs County Prosecutor’s Office.
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This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Human trafficking investigation leads to nine arrests in Morgan County
