(KRON) — Three people were arrested during a recent sting operation in Menlo Park that targeted individuals who intended to sexually victimize children under the age of 14, authorities announced Wednesday.
Detectives with the Menlo Park Police Department posed as minors on social media in an effort to “identify, contact, and arrest anyone who may be trying to target children for sex,” authorities said. The detectives were contacted by three individuals who arranged meetups during the multi-day operation that concluded on Wednesday.
The suspects, according to Menlo Park PD, used sexually explicit language when conversing with undercover detectives whom they believed were minors. One of the suspects allegedly sent graphic photos.
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When the suspects arrived at the meetup location within Menlo Park, they were arrested. The suspects were identified as:
- Arunkumar Kizhakke Unnikrishnan, 45, of Mountain View
- Yony Trochez-Marinez, 33, of San Jose
- Jefferson Aldair Martinez Hernandez, 26, of Oakland
All three were booked into the San Mateo County Jail for charges of:
- Attempted lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 years of age
- Contact a minor with the intent to commit a sex crime or other serious felony
- Arrange or meet with a minor with intent to engage in lewd or lascivious behavior
Hernandez was arrested on an additional charge for distributing harmful matter to a minor…