OPERATION PEERLESS SUMMER
 David Aardal |
 Michael Bunte |
 Andrew Evans |
 Kevin Gauthier |
 Aaron Holt |
 Frank McCrea |
 Charles Osborn |
 John Hass Jr. |
 James Wardwell |
 Ryan Walker |
 Phillip Sheffield |
 Stephen Skelly |
 David Alan |
 Nicholas Beach |
 Kyle Mcguire |
The Colorado Springs Police Department's Internet Crimes Against Children Unit (ICAC) began an investigation into the distribution of child pornography via peer to peer networks on the internet. The investigation coincided with Internet Safety Month across the United States. The task force worked with fifteen (15) law enforcement agency affiliates during the course of the investigation. They are the El Paso County Sheriffs Office, Canon City Police Department, Douglas County Sheriffs Office, Ft. Lupton Police Department, Parker Police Department, Eagle County Sheriffs Office, Immigration and Customs (ICE), United States Marshals Office, the FBI, US Army Criminal Investigations Division (CID), and the US Air Force Officer of Special Investigations (OSI).
Persons were identified that were actively engaged in the distribution of child pornography electronically from privately owned computers. Although some of the below identified arrestees are active duty military personnel, there is no evidence that computers belonging to the Federal Government were involved.
Federal and local law enforcement agencies subsequently combined to arrest 15 (fifteen) individuals in a span of seven days. Additional arrests are pending which will bring the total number of persons arrested to around 20-25 individuals. The names of those suspects are not available at this time, however they have been identified. Other additional charges for those already arrested are also anticipated for other sex crimes related to children and drug charges.
Those arrested are not part of a traditional pornography "ring" except that each uses the internet and file sharing programs to possess and traded child pornography. At this time, the investigation has not revealed a connection between any of the arrested individuals.
These investigations are an excellent example of the collaborative efforts that often result in the arrest of suspects in these kinds of crimes across and outside of the country.
Holt, Aaron Age 24 Sexual Exploitation of Children, arrested 06-10-09 at 2017 Southgate Rd #33
Walker, Ryan, Age 18 Sexual Exploitation of Children, arrested 06-11-09 at 2114 Wold Ave
Aardal, David, Age 70 Sexual Exploitation of Children arrested 06-11-09 at 4275 Star Ranch Rd
Osborn, Charles, Age 48 Sexual Exploitation of Children - registered sex offender, arrested 06-12-09 1422 W. Bijou St
McCrea, Frank, Age 20 Sexual Exploitation of Children, Arrested 06-15-09 at the Police Operations Center
Bunte, Michael, Age 24 Sexual Exploitation of Children arrested 06-15-09 at the Police Operations Center
Gauthier, Kevin, Age 48 Sexual Exploitation of Children arrested 06-17-09 at 3815 Radiant Dr #404
Skelly, Stephen Age 24 Sexual Exploitation of Children arrest date 06-17-09 at the Police Operations Center
Wardwell, James, Age 66 Sexual Exploitation of Children - registered sex offender arrested 06-12-09 at 1028 Arch St
Sheffield, Phillip, Age 18 Sexual Exploitation of Children arrested 06-17-09 at the Police Operations Center.
Hass, John, Age 29 Sexual Exploitation of Children arrested 06-18-09 at 310 Crestone Drive #11
(The following suspects are active duty Army and Air Force personnel as indicated. Their ages are not available)
Alan, David, Sexual Exploitation of Children, arrested 06-15-09 on Ft Carson
Beach, Nicholas, Sexual Exploitation of Children, arrested 06-10-09 on Ft Carson
Mcguire, Kyle, Sexual Exploitation of Children, arrested on 06-10-09 on Ft. Carson
Evans, Andrew, Sexual Exploitation of Children, arrested on 06-10-09 at 1425 Peterson Road
