UPDATE: 11th arrest as part of sting operation targeting child sex predators

UPDATE: Wednesday, the Mesa County Sheriff's Office announced another arrest, bringing the total to 11.

Jorge Yon, 25, of Grand Junction, was arrested Tuesday evening for the charge of Soliciting for Child Prostitution (Class 3 Felony). Yon was booked into the Mesa County Detention Facility.

He's the latest in an undercover sting operation involving numerous agencies. The Mesa County Sheriff's Office says, as a part of this large-scale multi-jurisdictional undercover operation, highly trained investigators posted ads for sex with children on several websites, social media sites, and applications.

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Local law enforcement from across the valley teamed up with federal agencies to arrest almost a dozen people in an undercover operation targeting child sex predators in the Mesa County area.

According to a press release from the Mesa County Sheriff’s office, local police teamed up with Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals Service and the FBI to arrest 10 people that were trying to have sex with children or engage in prostitution.

The sheriff’s office said undercover investigators posted ads for sex with children online, on social media and on phone apps.

The following people were taken to the Mesa County jail as a part of the three-day sting, according to the sheriff’s office;

- Aaron Apatang, of Grand Junction, on charges of internet luring of a child, sexual exploitation of a child and criminal attempt of sexual assault on a child.

- Steven Bruckner, of Grand Junction, was charged with soliciting child prostitution.

- Jason Gullion, of Grand Junction, on charges of criminal attempt of sexual assault on a victim less than 15 years old, and soliciting for child prostitution.

- Michael Jones, of Grand Junction, on charges of soliciting for child prostitution, patronizing a prostituted child, criminal attempt of sexual assault on a child, weapons and drug charges, and various other charges.

- Terry Royster, of Grand Junction, on charges of soliciting for child prostitution and criminal attempt of sexual assault on a child.

- Robert Woodruff III, of North Carolina, on charges of internet luring of a child with intent of sexual contact exploitation and criminal attempt of sexual assault on a victim less than 15 years old.

- Austin Pierce was arrested on a warrant related to a sex assault case where the victim is 14 years old, according to the sheriff’s office.

- Jorge Yon, 25, of Grand Junction, was arrested Tuesday evening for the charge of Soliciting for Child Prostitution (Class 3 Felony).

Three other people, Kimberly Anderson, Dustin Kelleher and Jennifer Smith, were given court summons on charges of prostitution.

The Grand Junction Police Department, Palisade Police Department, Colorado State Patrol, CBI and the Mesa County DA’s office worked on the operation, the press release said.