Friday and Saturday evenings, Turlock Police conducted an online chat operation in the City of Turlock.

The mission of the operation was to catch predators who were seeking to meet underaged children for sexual activity.

This complex operation involved the coordinated effort of multiple agencies and specialized units. With the support of the Sacramento Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office Special Victims Unit, Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit, and California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Division of Adult Parole Operations, officials were able to arrest 17 individuals on several felony sex-related charges successfully.

12 of the arrestees were local, while the remaining five were out-of-county residents, traveling from as far as Sacramento County.

All individuals were booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center, with a majority being held on a $500,000 bail.

This independent investigation was not related to any recent arrests or investigations.

“This operation was the culmination of months of planning by the Turlock Police Department and cooperating agencies,” said Chief Hedden. “I am proud of Detective Gina Giovacchini and our team for their efforts to intercept those looking to harm children in our community.”

“Thank you to our partnering agencies who took part in this operation,” said Detective Giovacchini. “Without their collaborative efforts, this operation wouldn’t have been nearly as successful as it was. Their assistance helped keep our youth safe. Keeping our children safe from predators will continue to be my number one priority.”

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information that could assist in it is encouraged to call Detective Giovacchini at 209-668-6539.