The SpringHill Suites hotel off Baxter Lane is where the Bozeman Police Department arrested 18 people over the weekend in a prostitution sting operation.
“I would say that a lot of ways it's a bigger problem than what most people probably realize. The fact that we can identify 18 people in just a few days that are participating in this sort of thing should give us pause,” says Captain Dana McNeil of the Bozeman Police Department.
The BPD says a human trafficking and child exploitation investigation led to the arrests on prostitution-related charges. The investigation took place from July 20 to July 22, 2023.
The arrests resulted in charges that include 18 counts of patronizing a prostitute, five counts of criminal distribution of dangerous drugs, one count of resisting arrest, and one count of patronizing a victim of sex trafficking for a child victim.
Court documents say the police department conducted an undercover operation in which law enforcement posted online ads offering sexual services under the escort names "Zoe" and "Destiny."
Each person arrested had made contact through the ads and arranged to have sexual intercourse in exchange for money with one of the two undercover escort personas.
Below are the names of the people who were arrested for allegedly patronizing a prostitute, according to court documents:
- Jessie Lee Donnes
- Alekjandro Guerrero Aviles
- Brian Edward Heck
- Mark John Naharniak
- David Stoker
- Dana Paul Williams
- Joseph Reed
- Floyd Harmonson Jr.
- Kevin Contreras Chicas
- Bryce Widner
- Alfredo Landaverde
- Kenneth Williams
- Steven Frey
- Steven Strickland
- Joshua Cook
- John Schwabel
- Ian Nicklin
- Jose Garcia Gonzalez
One of the men who was arrested, Brian Heck, was a Belgrade School Trustee who resigned on Monday.
According to McNeil, the Montana Legislature increased the penalty for prostitution, making the first offense a felony in the state. McNeil says that was a motivator for the department to take a closer look at human trafficking.
Detectives also seized cocaine, fentanyl, and other physical evidence during the investigation.
The investigation was conducted by the Bozeman Police Department and Montana State University Special Victims Unit, Montana Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Montana Analysis and Technical Information Center.
“We want to use this opportunity to educate the public and reach out to those in need of assistance,” said Captain Dana McNeil of the Bozeman Police Department. “If someone is controlling or managing you, abusing you, withholding basic necessities from you in order to control you and your finances, providing you with illegal drugs, or if you feel scared, unsafe, and unable to leave the situation, seek help.”
Residents in need can contact the Gallatin County Victims Services office at 406-582-2075, call the Montana Human Trafficking Hotline at 833-406 STOP (7867), or call the national human trafficking hotline at 888-373-7888.
We will update you if we get more information.
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