MODESTO, CA - The Director of the Rainbow Resource Center of Modesto was arrested among 17 other men in a multi-agency sting operation targeting men for allegedly eliciting sex from minors according to a report from the Modesto Bee.
According to the report, Gerad Slayton, 42, and sixteen other men were taken into custody by the Turlock Police Department after falling into a sting designed to ensnare sexual predators reportedly contacting minors with the intent to have sex with them.
The Rainbow Resource Center posted a statement to Facebook saying, “We want to assure our community that we take these allegations with the utmost seriousness. [Slayton’s] actions do not represent our organization’s values or mission." They added, “In accordance with our unwavering commitment to upholding the highest standards of conduct and integrity, we are addressing the issue within the rainbow resource center.
“We acknowledge the impact that the situation may have had on the community. We understand that trust is earned through consistent and accountable actions. We are dedicated to rebuilding any trust that may have been affected by the situation. As an organization that is at the forefront of advocacy and support for the LGBTQ+ community, our actions must reflect our dedication to these principles.”
As reported by the Modesto Bee, the operation that captured Slayton was headed by Turlock police Detective Gina Giovacchini. The detective told reporters that undercover officers impersonated children from 13 years of age up to 17 and added "We got hits on every age."
Using a combination of messaging and dating applications, Giovacchini said that an officer claiming to be a minor would engage the suspects and get them to agree to meet in person in order to have sexual relations. The operation is the first of its kind for the Turlock PD she said.
Slayton has pleaded not guilty to the felony charge of "meeting with a minor for the purpose of engaging in lewd and lascivious behavior" and is set to appear in court on January 29th
In its own statement posted to Facebook, the Turlock PD wrote, "On January 5th and 6th, 2024, the Turlock Police Department conducted an online chat operation in the city of Turlock. The mission of this operation was to catch predators that were seeking to meet with underaged children for the purpose of sexual activity. This operation was complex in nature and involved the coordinated effort of multiple agencies and various police department units.
"With the support of the Sacramento Valley Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office Special Victim’s Unit (SVU), State Parole, and Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office Special Victim’s Unit (SVU), officials were able to successfully arrest seventeen individuals on several felony sex-related charges. Twelve of the arrestees were local, while the remaining five were out of county residents, traveling as far as Elverta, CA. All individuals were booked into the Stanislaus County Jail with majority being held on a $500,000 bail."
Chief Hedden said, “This operation was the culmination of months of planning by the Turlock Police Department and cooperating agencies. I am proud of Detective Gina Giovacchini and our team for their efforts to intercept those looking to harm children in our community.”
Giovacchini added, "Thank you to our partnering agencies who took part in this operation. Without their collaborative efforts, this operation wouldn’t have been nearly as successful as it was. Their assistance helped keep our youth safe.” She continued, “Keeping our children safe from predators will continue to be my number one priority."
According to the report, Gerad Slayton, 42, and sixteen other men were taken into custody by the Turlock Police Department after falling into a sting designed to ensnare sexual predators reportedly contacting minors with the intent to have sex with them.
The Rainbow Resource Center posted a statement to Facebook saying, “We want to assure our community that we take these allegations with the utmost seriousness. [Slayton’s] actions do not represent our organization’s values or mission." They added, “In accordance with our unwavering commitment to upholding the highest standards of conduct and integrity, we are addressing the issue within the rainbow resource center.
“We acknowledge the impact that the situation may have had on the community. We understand that trust is earned through consistent and accountable actions. We are dedicated to rebuilding any trust that may have been affected by the situation. As an organization that is at the forefront of advocacy and support for the LGBTQ+ community, our actions must reflect our dedication to these principles.”
As reported by the Modesto Bee, the operation that captured Slayton was headed by Turlock police Detective Gina Giovacchini. The detective told reporters that undercover officers impersonated children from 13 years of age up to 17 and added "We got hits on every age."
Using a combination of messaging and dating applications, Giovacchini said that an officer claiming to be a minor would engage the suspects and get them to agree to meet in person in order to have sexual relations. The operation is the first of its kind for the Turlock PD she said.
Slayton has pleaded not guilty to the felony charge of "meeting with a minor for the purpose of engaging in lewd and lascivious behavior" and is set to appear in court on January 29th
In its own statement posted to Facebook, the Turlock PD wrote, "On January 5th and 6th, 2024, the Turlock Police Department conducted an online chat operation in the city of Turlock. The mission of this operation was to catch predators that were seeking to meet with underaged children for the purpose of sexual activity. This operation was complex in nature and involved the coordinated effort of multiple agencies and various police department units.
"With the support of the Sacramento Valley Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office Special Victim’s Unit (SVU), State Parole, and Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office Special Victim’s Unit (SVU), officials were able to successfully arrest seventeen individuals on several felony sex-related charges. Twelve of the arrestees were local, while the remaining five were out of county residents, traveling as far as Elverta, CA. All individuals were booked into the Stanislaus County Jail with majority being held on a $500,000 bail."
Chief Hedden said, “This operation was the culmination of months of planning by the Turlock Police Department and cooperating agencies. I am proud of Detective Gina Giovacchini and our team for their efforts to intercept those looking to harm children in our community.”
Giovacchini added, "Thank you to our partnering agencies who took part in this operation. Without their collaborative efforts, this operation wouldn’t have been nearly as successful as it was. Their assistance helped keep our youth safe.” She continued, “Keeping our children safe from predators will continue to be my number one priority."
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Comments
2024-01-22T06:19-0500 | Comment by: Karen
This is their plan all along. Sexualiize children at a young age and make it easier for them to have their way with children. Disgusting perverts.