3 From Region Arrested In Online Sex Sting

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office says three men from the area have been arrested after a proactive, undercover chat operation used to identify online sexual solicitors of children.

According to law enforcement, 45 individuals were being investigated from around the United States and Canada.  The three locals arrested and charged are: 45-year-old Mark Richard Olson of Twin Valley, 53-year-old Telesforo Lacambra Ragra of Thief River Falls and 21-year-old Kaden James Marquart of Grand Forks. All are facing charges of Soliciting a Child or Believe to be a Child Through Electronic Communication to Engage in Sexual Conduct. Ragra has additional counts of Distribute via Electronic Communication Material that Relates/Describes Sexual Conduct to a Child.

Law enforcement officials say the Crookston Police Department, MN Safe Harbor, and the Pine to Prairie Drug Task Force assisted the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in the operation.

Polk County officials urge parents to be proactive in monitoring their children’s devices, social media apps, and internet use. “Some of the applications with current high activity of individuals engaging in sexual contact with children are Snapchat, Kik, Whisper, Meet24, Meetme, Grindr and Bumble. These applications will vary in popularity and parents should always be aware of what their children’s internet activity is. Parents should be extra aware of dating applications on their children’s device as some of these applications may not appear to be for dating activities,” reads the press release.

If you do suspect your child is being solicited, law enforcement urges you to contact them and make a report.  All investigations are active and ongoing, as law enforcement says they are working to identify and charge all offenders.