38 sexual predators arrested during Florida trafficking sting ‘Operation Watchdog’

The agencies involved in "Operation Watchdog" that took place from February 1 to February 5 were: the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security, the Panama City and Panama Beach Police Departments, the US Marshals Service, Lynn Haven Police Department, and Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

The 38 arrested committed various different sex crimes including possession of child pornography, traveling to procure sex from minors, and new violations (such as failing to register as a sex offender) for those on the sex offender registry, according to Panama City News Herald.

Officials with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office said during the press conference that most of the arrests were made after monitoring online chats and social media accounts. Popular social media websites including, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, were used by the sex offenders to prey on minors.

Lt. Jeremy Mathis of the Bay County Sheriff's Office, who headed the operation, said he wanted those who are preying on children to know that law enforcement is watching them, according to Panama City News Herald.

"If we see it or we have a law violation, we're coming to get them," Mathis said. "Kids are not a commodity."

Among those arrested was a Bay County EMS captain named Eddie Kemp, who was arrested for traveling to have sex with a minor. Kemp has now been placed on unpaid administrative leave.

Officials with "Operation Watchdog" made a plea to parents to keep a closer watch on their children, especially when they spend more of their time at home because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The following are those who were arrested during the sting operation:

· Christopher T. Hernandez, age 26, of Enzor Street, on two charges of Failure to Register Proton mail & Discord Social Media Accounts

· Wallace Griggs, age 41, a transient, on charges of Failure to Register Address and 60 charges of Possession of Child Pornography

· Aaron Archer, age 41, of Baldwin Road, on charges of Failure to Register Social Media Accounts (Discord & Twitch accounts)

· Ron Wooden, age 49, of Dolphin Drive, on charges of Failure to Register Vehicle, and Face Book, Instagram, Gmail, & Twitter accounts

· Gregory Carver, age 28, of Betty Louise Drive, on charges of Failure to Register Vehicle and Kik Social Media Account

· Mary Martin, age 52, of Smith Road, on charges of Failure to Register AOL, Gmail, Yahoo, Facebook, and Instagram Social Media Accounts

· Scott Amberg, age 69, of Eastwood Avenue, on charges of Failure to Register Proton Mail and Discord Township Social Media Accounts and Google Account

· Damon Calen, age 43, of Lake Suzanne Way, on charges of Failure to Register Trailer

· Erik Reed, age 32, of Steeplechase Drive, on charges of Failure to Register Reddit & Instagram Accounts

· Kevin Zerbe, age 55, of B Street, on charges of Failure to Register Gmail Account and Violation of Probation

· Kevin Fayas, age 36, of Plum Nearly Road, on charges of Failure to Register Pub G Application

· Daniel Cherico, age 40, of Hwy 231, on charges of Failure to Register Trailer

· Laken George, age 28, of Leslie Lane, on charges of Failure to Register Discord, Instagram, Reddit, and Grindr Accounts

· James Mabry, age 35, of Flight Avenue, on charges of Failure to Register Instagram Account

· Kevin Weaver, age 52, of Eastwood Drive, on charges of Failure to Register Gmail, WhatsApp, Xbox Accounts

· Paul Parker, age 56, of E. 9th Street, on charges of Failure to Register Facebook & Violation of Probation

· Robert Morgan, age 36, of Anderson Road, on charges of Failure to Register Xbox, Playstation, and Roblox Accounts

· Willie Dean, age 60, a transient, on charges of Failure to Register Address and Violation of Probation (Warrant from 2020)

· James Scholl, age 57, of Indiana Avenue, on charges of Failure to Register Instagram and Vehicle

· Billando West, age 63, of E. 8th Street, on charges of Failure to Register Address (Warrant from 2019)

· Robert Pence, age 63, of Deep Springs Road, on charges of Failure to Register Telephone, Tik Tok, & Gmail Accounts

· Sean Jansen, age 27, on Montana Avenue, on charges of Failure to Register Vehicle (two counts), Gmail, YouTube Accounts, and Employment

· Ronald Eakins, age 57, of Bonita Avenue, on charges of Failure to Register Address (Warrant from 2020)

· Danny Waller, age 37, a transient, on charges of Traveling to Meet a Minor for Sexual Act, Possession of Meth, Possession of Paraphernalia

· Neil Hawley, age 40, of Dothan, Alabama, on charges of Traveling to Meet A Minor For Sexual Act, Solicitation of a Minor For Sexual Act, Use of 2-Way Comms Device, Distribute Obscene Material To A Minor

· Eddie Kemp, age 57, of Acme Lane, on charges of Traveling to Meet a Minor For Sexual Activity

· Terry L. Lynch, age 47, of Sherman Avenue, on charges of Sexual Battery (Warrant from 2021)