Twenty people arrested in local prostitution sting

The Kerr County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Kerrville Police Department, Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division, and the Texas Department of Public Safety Intelligence and Counter-Terrorism Division, completed a multi-day operation to interdict those soliciting prostitution and committing sex crimes against children in Kerr County.

In this operation, investigators communicated with and were able to identify, more than 265 individuals across the region who were actively seeking prostitutes, some including arrangements involving children.

A total of twenty suspects were arrested after communicating with officers and attempting to meet what they believed to be women and in some cases minors, for sexual conduct, according to a press release.

Those individuals arrested include:

Sheridan Lance Rippy, 66, of Kerrville, on one count of Solicitation of Prostitution. Rippy was booked into the Kerr County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

Kenneth Wayne Hatcher, 58, of Kerrville, on one count of Solicitation of Prostitution. Hatcher was booked into the Kerr County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

Donald Eugene Kampfhenkel, 66, of Kerrville, on one count of Solicitation of Prostitution, and one count of Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon. Kampfhenkel was booked into the Kerr County Jail on a $6,000 bond.

Oscar Leonides Herrera, 38, of Kerrville, on one count of Solicitation of Prostitution. Herrera was booked into the Kerr County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

Chad Frederick Shannon, 37, of Bryan, on one count of Solicitation of Prostitution. Shannon was booked into the Kerr County Jail on a $7,500 bond.

Joel Morin, Jr., 41, of San Antonio, on one count of Solicitation of Prostitution. Morin was booked into the Kerr County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

Jimmie Alcorta, Jr., 50, of Kerrville, on one count of Solicitation of Prostitution. Alcorta was booked into the Kerr County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

Matthew Ryan Carr, 38, of Fredericksburg, on one count of Solicitation of Prostitution. Carr was booked into the Kerr County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

Octavio Rico Viramontes, 38, of San Antonio, on one count of Solicitation of Prostitution, and one count of Possession of a Controlled Substance, PG1, (Methamphetamine)>4<200G. Viramontes was booked into the Kerr County Jail on a $27,500 bond.

Steven Ray King, 61, of Boerne, on one count of Solicitation of Prostitution. King was booked into the Kerr County Jail on a $7,500 bond.

Christopher Scott Jony, 52, of La Vernia, on one count of Solicitation of Prostitution. Jony was booked into the Kerr County Jail on a $7,500 bond.

Christopher Daniel Berry, 37, of Stockdale, on one count of Solicitation of Prostitution, one count of Manufacture/Delivery of a Controlled Substance, PG1 (Methamphetamine)>4<200G, one count of Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon, and Possession of Marijuana<2 oz. Berry was booked into the Kerr County Jail on a $30,500 bond.

Nicholas Silva, 41, of San Antonio, on one count of Solicitation of Prostitution, one count of Solicitation of a Minor. Silva was booked into the Kerr County Jail on a $27,500 bond.

Sam Junior Son, 41, of San Antonio, on one count of Solicitation of Prostitution, one count of Online Solicitation of a Minor. Son was booked into the Kerr County Jail on a $27,500 bond.

Emmett Logan Brown, 41, of San Antonio, on one count of Solicitation of Prostitution. Brown was booked into the Kerr County Jail on a $7,500 bond.

Alan Anthony Martin, 59, of Spring Branch, on one count of Solicitation of Prostitution. Martin was booked into the Kerr County Jail on a $7,500 bond.

William Franklin Gadberry, 43, of New Braunfels, on one count of Solicitation of Prostitution. Gadberry was booked into the Kerr County Jail on a $7,500 bond.

Bao V Tran, 31, of San Antonio, on one count of Solicitation of Prostitution. Tran was booked into the Kerr County Jail on a $7,500 bond.

Christopher Daniel Walker, 41, of San Antonio, on one count of Solicitation of Prostitution. Walker was booked into the Kerr County Jail on a $7,500 bond.

Paz Joaquin Martinez, 44, of San Antonio, on one count of Solicitation of Prostitution, and one count of Manufacture/Delivery of a Controlled Substance, PG1 (Methamphetamine)<1g. Martinez was booked into the Kerr County Jail on a $15,000 bond.

According to Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha, “As evidenced through interviews and contraband seized in this operation, prostitution is part of a larger picture of criminal activity, including the drug trade and child victimization. Human smuggling, sex trafficking, and prostitution are crimes that support each other, and we’re working hard on all fronts to stop them.”