California: LGBT resource center director arrested in operation targeting child sexual abuse ring
Gerad Slayton, 42, had recently been named executive director of the Rainbow Resource Center. He is accused of committing several serious sex-related crimes. At his court appearance, he pleaded not guilty.
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(theodoranian Wikimedia Commons)
The executive director of a well-known LGBT resource center in California was one of 17 men arrested on suspicion of participating in a ring of sexual predators who sought to meet with minors for sex.
Gerad Slayton, 42, had recently been named executive director of the Rainbow Resource Center, based in Modesto, Calif. The center describes itself as a "non-profit queer resource center" that provides support to people of all ages.
The man was arrested during an undercover operation that was conducted over the course of months by the Turlock Police Department, along with other agencies. Slayton is accused of committing several serious sex-related crimes. At his court appearance, he pleaded not guilty. His next court date is scheduled for Jan. 29.
The police operation
The director of the operation, Gina Giovacchini, said the undercover officers pretended to be children between the ages of 13 and 17 and used dating apps to lure suspects to a location. According to a press release published on the Turlock Police Department Facebook account:
Rainbow Resource Center statement
The Rainbow Resource Center posted a statement on its Facebook page stating that Slayton's alleged actions occurred outside of his capacity with the organization and "do not represent our organization's values or mission."
The arrested men
All of the arrested men are being held on $500,000 bail and were identified as: Antoni Shahbaz Yangejeh (35 years old); Devin Greer Dacanay (22); Aaron Doub (41); Mario Dejesus (37); Salvador Núñez (28); Juan Viera Jr. (29); Justin Velez (37); Cesar Linarez Jr. (25); Bryce Wilkinson (19); Gerad Slayton (42); Armando Cárdenas (32); Leopoldo García Aquino (25); José, Herrera Sánchez (54); Andrew Godinez (21); Jesús Cerna Bernabé (29); Anthony Morrisette (41) and Fernando Delacruz Martínez (36).