Spotsylvania County Sheriffs Office 9119 Dean Ridings Lane

Spotsylvania, Va. 22553

Phone 540.582.7115
Fax 540.582.9448

Press Release
Contact: Captain Elizabeth Scott
Phone: 540.507.7492 For Immediate Release
February 14, 2017

As a continued partnership with the Northern Virginia Internet Crimes

Against Children (NOVO/DC ICAC) Task Force, members of the Spotsylvania
Sheriffs Office Child Exploitation Unit (CEU) arrested 11 subjects during an
undercover on-line operation from October 2016- February 2017. The
operation is funded by legislation and Awarded to local jurisdictions by the
Virginia State Police. The Award provided overtime hours, training and
equipment for deputies to target internet crimes against children.

Trained members of the Sheriffs Office CEU searched internet chatting sites
and applications in search of online predators. The individuals identified and
arrested initiated communication with the undercover Officers, believing that
they were chatting with young teenage girls. Most of the subjects believed
they were going to have a sexual encounter with a child and drove to a pre-
determined location within the county to meet with the juvenile. These
subjects were arrested and charged with various offenses related to the
solicitation of a minor child.

Award funded operations like this allow local Law Enforcement to be

proactive in our approach to catching predators. Online predators are a
serious concern in our society today and these operations are essential in the
fight against the sexual exploitation of children. The Spotsylvania Sheriffs
Office and the Commonwealth Attorneys Office are dedicated to the
continued efforts to protect the youth of our community.
Those arrested were identified as follows:

1.) Colin Clayton, 21 of Spotsylvania Co., Charged with Indecent

Liberties, Electronic Solicitation of a Minor, Possession of Marijuana
and Driving Revoked.
2.) Mohammed Nuri, 20 of Spotsylvania Co., Charged with Indecent
Liberties and Electronic Solicitation of a Minor.
3.) Thomas Petry, 28 of Spotsylvania Co., Charged with Indecent
Liberties and Electronic Solicitation of a Minor.
4.) Austin Fowler, 26 of Stafford Co., Charged with Indecent Liberties
and Electronic Solicitation of a Minor.
5.) Michael Silver, 20 no fixed addres, Charged with Indecent Liberties
and Electronic Solicitation of a Minor.
6.) Gabriel Hester, 33 of Caroline Co., Charged with Indecent Liberties,
Electronic Solicitation of a Minor and Felony Prostitution.
7.) Stephen Redford, 27 of Amelia Co., Charged with Indecent Liberties
and Electronic Solicitation of a Minor.
8.) Howard Dowden, 32 of Caroline Co., Charged with Indecent Liberties
and Electronic Solicitation of a Minor.
9.) Jon-Paul Snyder, 31 of Caroline Co., Charged with Indecent Liberties
and Electronic Solicitation of a Minor.
10.) Reginal Johnson, 64 of Henrico Co., Charged with Indecent
Liberties and Electronic Solicitation of a Minor.
11.) Michael Miller, 62 of Spotsylvania Co., Charged with Indecent
Liberties and Electronic Solicitation of a Minor.