Three Enterprise area residents arrested in 'Operation Southern Impact'

Three Enterprise area residents were arrested in a "mutually coordinated operation between Georgia and Alabama law enforcement agencies," according to a press release from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

After about three months of planning and two days of serving warrants and making arrests, 31 people from both states were arrested during "Operation Southern Impact." In Alabama, 11 individuals were arrested.

"Those arrested in Alabama were charged with crimes surrounding the sexual exploitation of children," the release stated. "Additional charges may be forthcoming, and other arrests may occur after analysis of seized digital devices."

The Georgia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Alabama Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force coordinated the operation, which focused on suspects who possessed and distributed child pornography and those who sexually exploited children in other ways using the Internet.

"The Georgia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Alabama Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force wanted to reinforce to those who exploit children that the ICAC Task Forces will work together to make an impact in their respective states and the region as a whole," the release stated. "The cooperation among agencies and among states illustrates their level of commitment to detect, arrest and prosecute child predators. Cooperation is always important in law enforcement, but it is never more important than when we set out to protect children. 'Operation Southern Impact' has given us an opportunity to share our experience, information and resources across units, agencies and state lines to make sure that there is no safe place to hide for criminals who would victimize the most vulnerable among us."

In both states, 54 search warrants were executed. During the operation, 162 digital devices were examined and 731 digital devices were seized as evidence.

"Law enforcement officers conducting the searches were looking for evidence of possession and distribution of child pornography using the Internet as well as evidence of other child exploitation-related crimes," the release stated.

The Enterprise Police Department was one of 34 agencies that assisted during the operation.

Jonathan Sheldon, 36, of New Hope was arrested and charged with possession of child pornography. Hope Akron and Bobby Warren, both of Enterprise, were arrested and charged with second-degree possession of marijuana.