“In each instance, the suspect contacted the officers and agreed to pay to have sex and then met them at the designated location and time,” The DPA reported. “After exchanging cash and, in one case, alcohol, an arrest was made. In one incident, the suspect allegedly fought with officers before being tased and taken into custody.”
Hammonds allegedly agreed to pay $100 to have sex with what he thought was a 16-year-old girl, according to reports.
“Once he arrived and reportedly paid the amount, he was arrested,” the article stated.
Hammonds was booked into the McMinn County Justice Center and charged with two counts of patronizing prostitution of a law enforcement officer posing as a minor.
Abonce allegedly agreed to pay $100 for sex with a 16-year-old girl.
“Once he arrived and paid the cash, Abonce was arrested and booked into the McMinn County Justice Center on two counts of patronizing prostitution of a law enforcement officer posing as a minor,” The DPA reported.
Also arrested were:
• Dwayne Devon Brown, 35, of Baltimore, Maryland, who allegedly agreed to pay $150 to have a “quick visit” with two people he thought were 16-year-old girls.
“Once he learned he was being arrested, Brown reportedly “bit Det. Doug Reed on the left bicep” before he was “tased to compliance” and arrested,” according to the report.
He was booked into the McMinn County Justice Center on charges of resisting arrest, assault on a first responder and two counts of patronizing prostitution of a law enforcement officer posing as a minor.
• Jeffrey Croft, 58, of Niota, who allegedly agreed to pay $200 for an hour session with two 16-year-old girls, reportedly “brought a bottle of liquor for the girls.”
Once he turned over the cash and alcohol, Croft was arrested and booked into the McMinn County Justice Center on two counts of patronizing prostitution of a law enforcement officer posing as a minor.
• David Lee Garvin, 34, of Athens, allegedly agreed to pay $150 for a “quick visit” with one 16-year-old and one 17-year-old girl.
Once he showed up and paid the cash, Garvin was arrested.
While Garvin was in contact with the people he thought were the underage girls, he allegedly “solicited explicit photos” of them,” The DPA reported.
As a result, he was charged with solicitation of a minor to observe sexual conduct and two counts of patronizing prostitution of a law enforcement officer posing as a minor.
Also during the operation, an officer discovered an online advertisement allegedly produced by Makayla Deshay Dillard, 22, of Chattanooga.
The officer responded to the ad and agreed to pay $400 in cash in exchange for sex with Dillard. Once she arrived and the money was paid, Dillard was arrested.
“During a search, officers allegedly discovered a powder-like substance believed to be fentanyl along with a pair of brass knuckles,” The DPA article stated. “The substance was sent to the TBI lab and Dillard was booked into the McMinn County Justice Center on charges of prostitution, manufacturing/delivering a controlled substance and possession of a prohibited weapon.”
