WALTON COUNTY, Fla— An elaborate multi-agency investigation dubbed Operation Wolves Blanket has resulted in the arrest of 12 men on charges of child solicitation. Those charged include a man from Niceville, according to a report by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office.
Over a five-day period, the WCSO conducted the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) operation to target those seeking out children for sexual activity.
In conjunction with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the State Attorney’s Office, Panama City Beach Police, Panama City Police Department, and deputies from Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Offices, investigators ran the operation starting Wednesday, January 26 through Sunday, January 30.
“Our goal was to identify child predators and get them out of our communities,” said Sheriff Michael Adkinson.
“There is no shortage of these individuals preying on our youth; we must all be vigilant.”
During the effort, investigators act undercover as minors to identify people who used the internet to solicit minors under the age of 14.
They began communicating with the suspects, men ages 18 to 48 traveling from as far as Mississippi, ultimately setting up a location to carry out an arrest.
The individuals listed below have been charged with second-and third-degree felonies, according to the WCSO.
- Hazzie Carter, 39, of Gulfport, Mississippi (traveled from Fort Walton Beach)
- David Chocojay, 34, of Mobile, Alabama
- Tananan Wanna, 41, of Santa Rosa Beach
- Eric Dotlich, 42, of Pensacola
- Dakota Davis, 22, of Fort Walton Beach
- Cody Hamm, 27, of Cottondale
- Carter Gile, 25, of Navarre
- Joshua Ward, 18, of Gulf Breeze
- Christian Coon, 22, of DeFuniak Springs
- Warwick Marsh, 26, of Destin
- Hassani Brown, 19, of Fort Walton Beach
- Allen Morrow, 48, of Niceville
Potential prison sentences range from five to 15 years behind bars per charge if found guilty and up to 25 years based on some sentencing guidelines.
