Multiple U.S. Men Arrested in Child Exploitation Cases

Several recent arrests across multiple states involve alleged child sexual exploitation, online solicitation and possession of child sexual abuse material. In Ohio, Johnathon Allen Michael Hawkins, 30, was indicted on four counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor for alleged sexual contact with a 13- or 14-year-old in February 2024 and is scheduled for arraignment Oct. 10 in Warren County Common Pleas Court; he is not in custody. In Texas, Jacksonville police arrested 68-year-old James Bruce Gragg in a joint investigation with Nebraska authorities on charges of possession of child pornography and distribution of harmful material to a minor, and prosecutors said further charges are expected. In Indiana, Emery Norton Jr. was arrested following a BitTorrent investigation and is accused of downloading and sharing child pornography while on federal probation and violating sex-offender registration rules; he faces charges including dissemination of child sexual abuse material and repeat sexual-offender allegations. In Alabama, 65-year-old Bobby Joe Raney was arrested after investigators reviewed disturbing social-media messages in which he allegedly attempted to solicit sex from a child under 12; he admitted the actions and was charged with electronic solicitation of a child, and authorities urged parents to monitor devices and report suspicious contacts.