The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office announced on Monday.
All eight arrested are facing the charge of travelling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act, a felony.
The sheriff’s office didn’t share specifics of the investigation but said each person charged was aware beforehand that they were meeting a child under 16 with the expectation of sexual contact.
Eight people were arrested in a human trafficking sting in DeKalb County, the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office announced on Monday.
Some of those charged allegedly came armed with knives or firearms.
Seven vehicles, over $2,000 in cash, one firearm, and multiple other weapons were seized during the investigation.
Those arrested include:
- Jose Gonzalez – 55, of Scottsboro
- Juan Miguel Castillo – 44, of Fort Payne
- Jonathan Holmes Golden – 40, of Somerville
- Juvah Tertius Williams – 29, of Gadsden
- Reid Edgar Simmons – 64 of Ohatchee
- Pascual Mateo-Diego – 28, of Fort Payne
- Austin Lee Battles – 29, of Attalla
- Casey Lynn McCormick- 35, of Boaz
“This should really open peoples’ eyes to what is lurking right here in our very own county,” said DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden. ”Child trafficking and child sex crimes have been on the rise across the entire county in the last few years. It’s a crime that’s hard to spot, hard to work and hard to convict on.
“The best way to fight it and keep it away from our children and our community is to start hunting it down! This is exactly what our Investigation Unit did, and I am proud of their willingness to put in all their energy to better protect ALL our families and our future.”