PARAGONAH, Utah, Feb. 20, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — A seventh man was arrested Monday in Iron County after making arrangements to have sex with what he thought were two 13-year-old girls, officials said.
The arrest was made as part of a joint operation between multiple agencies, a news release from Parowan Police Department said.
Eugene H. Alvarado, 46, was arrested early Monday afternoon after officials said he allegedly traveled from Sunnyvale, Calif., intending to meet what he believed were two 13-year-old girls.
Police said Alvarado, like the other six suspects, went to a house in northern Iron County, where law enforcement officers “moved in and made the arrest.”
Alvarado was taken into custody without incident and faces charges of two counts of each attempting to commit child rape, attempting to commit aggravated kidnapping and dealing harmful materials to a minor.
According to a news release Monday, the other six individuals arrested are 30-year-old Jason Everette Livermore of St. George, 30-year-old Phillip Michael Gerstner of Jerome, Idaho, 30-year-old Carlos Valenzuela Nunez of Enterprise, 31-year-old Trevor John Bodily of Clearfield, 53-year-old James Micheal Garrelts of Cedar City and 71-year-old Floyd Jennings of St. George.
All six responded to an online ad on a website known for child trafficking activities and met with the confidential informant.
“The operation netted six male individuals that traveled to Paragonah, Utah where they met with the confidential informant and agreed to have sex with one or more 13-year-old female children,” the news release said. “Money was exchanged, conversations with each suspect were had, to include ground rules and confirmation of the sexual acts to be performed.”
Livermore faces one count each of conspiracy to commit child rape, conspiracy to commit forcible sodomy and enticing a minor. Bodily faces one count of attempting to commit child sodomy, one count of attempting to commit child rape and one count of failure to stop at the command of officers. Gerstner and Nunez face one count of conspiracy to commit child rape. Jennings and Garrelts face two counts of conspiracy to commit child rape.
The arrests occurred after a joint operation by Parowan Police Department, Iron County Sheriff’s Office, Iron County Attorney’s Office, Iron/Garfield/Beaver Narcotics Task Force, Homeland Security Investigation, Utah Highway Patrol and Veterans for Child Rescue.
