Child sexual predator sentenced to 30 years in prison

A 40-year-old child sexual predator, Edmon Yohannes, has been arrested and sentenced to 30 years in prison for attempting to sexually assault minors, according to a statement from the Maricopa County Attorney's Office. In addition to his prison sentence, he will also face lifetime probation following his conviction.

Yohannes initially connected with a user on Grindr, a dating app, and later moved his conversation to Kik, a messaging platform known for its anonymity, often used by predators. The individual he contacted was actually an undercover detective from the Chandler Police Department, who was part of a larger initiative called Operation Tangled Web aimed at apprehending child sex offenders.

During their exchange, Yohannes expressed his sexual attraction to minors and offered to purchase stuffed animals as a trade for sexual favors with a 5-year-old boy and a 10-year-old girl. He even showed up for a prearranged meeting with the toys, which he had previously photographed and sent to the detective.

As a result of his actions, Yohannes was convicted on two counts of child sex trafficking and two counts of attempting to commit sexual conduct with a minor. His arrest highlights the ongoing battle against child exploitation, particularly in digital spaces frequented by predators.

Authorities emphasized the seriousness of Yohannes’ attempts to victimize children, underscoring the importance of undercover operations in preventing such offenses. "Thank heaven this was an undercover detective rather than two actual children," said Mitchell, a spokesperson for the authorities involved, expressing relief at the outcome that led to Yohannes' significant prison sentence.