Dozens arrested in undercover sting against sexual predators

CONROE, TX (KTRK) -- A firefighter, band director and a prison guard are among those arrested in the latest internet crimes against children sting.

During April and May, the Montgomery County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), which targets Internet based sexual predators, arrested 26 adults who were allegedly involved in the sexual exploitation of children online.

PHOTOS: MUG SHOTS OF THOSE ARRESTED

One of them, Klaus Riel, is a retired member of the 147th Air National Guard. Now he's charged with online solicitation of a minor.

"They've bought the duct tape, they've bought the condoms," said Montgomery County District Attorney Brett Ligon. "They've tried to arrange a meeting place and they've shown up at that meeting place only to be disappointed."

During this undercover sting, the suspects allegedly set up a meeting to have sexual contact with someone they believed to be a minor previously contacted online. Once the suspects arrived at the meeting location, they were arrested for online solicitation of a minor. Some of the suspects were also charged with possession of child pornography, if such evidence was discovered during the investigation.

Ligon says another person arrested during this sting was Adam Hymel, a band director at Truitt Middle School in Cy-Fair. The school district released a statement Wednesday saying, "Due to the serious nature of the allegation, the teacher was immediately placed on administrative leave and did not return to the campus. Although the charges did not involve any of our students, parents of his students were notified."

Another suspect is Jay Stamper, who until last month was a member of the Houston Fire Department. He's since been fired. Then there is Jesse Scarborough, who was out on parole when he went online and chatted up Officer Jeff Nichols.

"He told us he still had 19 years left on parole," Officer Nichols said.

Scarborough already plead guilty to the charges against him. So has one other defendant, leaving 24, including the former band director, firefighter, and military reservist to face their charges in court.

Anyone with information concerning illegal conduct or other potential victims by these suspects is asked to call the ICAC Tip Line at 936-760-6910.