12, including teacher, arrested in Mahoning County sex predator sting operation
The Mahoning County Sheriff's Office has announced intentions to discuss an ongoing operation in the Valley.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The Mahoning County Sheriff's Office and the Ohio Attorney General's Office is releasing more details about an undercover sex sting that has landed a dozen suspects in jail.
According to the sheriff's office, a three-day long operation has been conducted in the Valley beginning on Tuesday.
Twelve suspects have been booked into the county jail, all accused of attempting to have sexual contact with deputies posing as underage children. The attorney general's release says the suspects all allegedly traveled to a vacant home in Mahoning County with the intent to engage in a sexual encounter with a minor.
One suspect has been identified as an elementary teacher at Kirkmere.
Those arrests, including the criminal charges filed against the individual include:
Naji Alsagoo, 25, of Boardman
- Unlawful sexual conduct with a minor
- Importuning
- Possession of Criminal Tools
- Obstructing Official Business
Robert Canann, 50, of Niles
- Unlawful sexual conduct with a minor
- Importuning
- Possession of Criminal Tools
Justin Coyne, 21, of Cleveland
- Unlawful sexual conduct with a minor
- Importuning
- Possession of Criminal Tools
- Obstructing Official Business
Adam Dziedzic, 38, of New Castle, Pa.
- Unlawful sexual conduct with a minor
- Importuning
- Possession of Criminal Tools
Brandon Gorcheff, 26, North Lima
- Importuning
Thomas Maylone Jr., 29, East Liverpool
- Unlawful sexual conduct with a minor
- Importuning
- Possession of Criminal Tools
Kevin McNally, 23, Boardman
- Unlawful sexual conduct with a minor
- Importuning
- Possession of Criminal Tools
Alexander Morlan, 21, New Middletown
- Unlawful sexual conduct with a minor
- Importuning
- Possession of Criminal Tools
James Norkus, 24, of Salem
- Unlawful sexual conduct with a minor
- Importuning
- Possession of Criminal Tools
Andrew Nuzzi, 22, Girard
- Unlawful sexual conduct with a minor
- Importuning
- Possession of Criminal Tools
- Disseminating matter harmful to a juvenile
Peter Petroff Jr., 47, Boardman
- Unlawful sexual conduct with a minor
- Importuning
- Possession of Criminal Tools
Edward Webker, 41, Andover
- Unlawful sexual conduct with a minor
- Importuning
- Possession of Criminal Tools
- Corrupting another with drugs
- Disseminating matter harmful to a juvenile
The Ohio Attorney General's Office said Norkus is employed by the Youngstown City School District at Kirkmere Elementary.
RELATED COVERAGE: Youngstown teacher suspended after being charged in county sex sting
In response to inquiries from 21 News, the Youngstown City School District said that Norkus has been employed by the district since August 2017 as a physical education teacher at Kirkmere Elementary School.
Norkus has since been placed on unpaid administrative leave.
A press conference has been scheduled for 1 p.m. at the Mahoning County Sheriff Office.
21 News will be streaming the conference on wfmj.com and on the 21 News Facebook.
The suspects were arrested this week as part of an investigation led by the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force, which is part of Ohio Attorney General DeWine's Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission.
"It is reprehensible that anyone would arrange to meet with a juvenile for sex, but it is even more appalling when the person facing charges is an elementary school teacher," said Attorney General DeWine. "Protecting children is one of my highest priorities, and we will continue to do all we can to stop offenders from harming Ohio's kids."
“These types of internet crimes are something that my office takes seriously and personally," said Sheriff Greene. "As we have stated before, we are going to continue to pursue and arrest these types of predators who are looking to exploit our children.”
The Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force is led by the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office and includes representatives from the Austintown Police Department, Howland Township Police Department, Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Ohio Investigative Unit, Ohio State Highway Patrol, and the Warren Police Department.
The Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force also played a large role in conducting the investigation.
An operation earlier this year resulted in ten indictments against men caught in an undercover sting operations targeting adults looking for sex from children.
That sting was said to be one of the largest sting operations in Northeast Ohio at the time.
