Madison, IN — The City of Madison held a press conference yesterday regarding 13 men who were all arrested during an online investigation in Madison. Madison Police Department’s Crime Suppression Team began an online investigation in August, according to Madison Police Chief John Wallace. Wallace stated that many of the men arrested were from outside the city of Madison, traveling from Aurora, North Vernon, and even Michigan and Kentucky to meet with what they thought would be a minor. Chief Wallace added that the investigation, which has lasted over 300 hours so far, remains ongoing and more arrests are likely. Jefferson County Prosecutor David Sutter stated the 13 men arrested range in age from 24 to 63.
Those arrested were:
- Bryton Wise, 26 of Lexington, Indiana: Charged with possession of marijuana, hash oil, or hashish; child solicitation; and sexual misconduct with a minor.
- Christopher Warren, 44 of Milton, Kentucky: Charged with child solicitation, possession of methamphetamine, and sexual misconduct with a minor.
- Jonathan Smith, 35 of Clarksville, Indiana: Charged with sexual misconduct with a minor, child solicitation, false informing, battery on a law enforcement officer, dissemination of matter harmful to minors, and resisting law enforcement.
- Michael Spradling, 30 of North Vernon, Indiana: Charged with child solicitation and attempted sexual misconduct with a minor.
- Travis Case, 27 of Madison, Indiana: Charged with sexual misconduct with a minor and child solicitation.
- Dillon Stewart, 24 of Madison, Indiana: Charged with providing obscene material/pornography to minors and child solicitation.
- Matthew Sowers, 47 of North Vernon, Indiana: Charged with sexual misconduct with a minor and child solicitation.
- John Barlett, 30 of Bloomington, Indiana: Charged with child solicitation and sexual misconduct with a minor.
- Adam Gaskins, 41 of Aurora, Indiana: Charged with possession of methamphetamine, sexual misconduct with a minor, possession of anabolic steroids, and child solicitation.
- Ray Bell, 57 of Madison, Indiana: Charged with possession of child pornography.
- Ryan Perdue, 37 of Scottsburg, Indiana: Charged with sexual misconduct with a minor and child solicitation.
- Dennis Mothersbaugh, 40, of North Vernon, Indiana: Charged with sexual misconduct with a minor, child solicitation, and resisting law enforcement.
- George Grosse, 63 of Hamilton, Michigan: Charged with sexual misconduct with a minor, possession of methamphetamine, and child solicitation.
