Nine arrested in area prostitution sting

The Kerr County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from Kerrville Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Unit, have made arrests of nine suspects accused of soliciting prostitution and attempting sex crimes against minors in Kerr County.  In this operation, investigators communicated with dozens of individuals across the region who were actively seeking prostitutes or offering services, including arrangements with underage people, according to a press release.

A total of nine suspects were arrested after communicating with officers and attempting to meet what they believed to be women, men, and in some cases minors, for sexual conduct.  Participating in the undercover operation were officers and assets  from the KCSO Criminal Investigations Division, Special Operations Division, and Digital Forensics Unit, in conjunction with KPD, the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office Organized Crime Unit, Texas DPS Criminal Investigations Division, Texas DPS Intelligence and Counter Terrorism Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission.

In addition to the multi-agency law enforcement team, experts in human trafficking working with Mercy Gate Ministries assisted in the operation, offering rescue and recovery for individuals who may have been in trafficking situations.  Mercy Gate also provides educational and other resources.

Arrested in this operation were:

Steven Douglas Gold, 65, of San Antonio, on one count of Solicitation of Prostitution, and one count of Possession of a Controlled Substance PG1

James Ryan Nunn, 49, of San Antonio, on one count of Solicitation of Prostitution, and one count of Possession of a Controlled Substance, PG1

Marcos Augustine Herrera, 46, of Kerrville, on one count of Solicitation of Prostitution

Bennie H. Lowderback, 58, of La Vernia, on one count of Solicitation of Prostitution

Casey Sean Donovan, 41, of Kerrville, on one count of Solicitation of Prostitution

Nicolas Cuellar, 31, of San Antonio, on one count of Solicitation of Prostitution, and one count of Possession of a Controlled Substance PG1

Terry Lynn Draffen, 68, of Fredericksburg, on one count of Solicitation of Prostitution

Adam Lee Lehmann, Jr., 42, of Kingsland, on one count of Solicitatin of Prostitution

Christopher Miles Carter, 45, of San Antonio, of San Antonio, on one count of Solicitation of Prostitution

All persons arrested are in the Kerr County Jail with bonds not yet set.

Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said, “The sex trade is a complex criminal underground, one that touches the drug trade, human smuggling and many other kinds of crime.  We will continue our work to intercept those who build and support an industry that victimizes hundreds of thousands every year right here in Texas.” 

Featured Images: Courtesy of Kerr County Sheriff’s Office