Police launch online child sex sting

SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) - Santa Fe police set up a two-week sting to catch online predators with a sexual appetite for young girls.

They are calling it 'Operation Coyote Ugly', and they say they named it that because coyotes are known to prey on the weak.

"There's predators who are surfing and sharking these social websites for unsuspecting children," said Santa Fe Police Lieutenant Louis Carlos.

Carlos explained detectives with the department's Crimes Against Children's Unit posed as girls ages 13-15 to lure the men to unknown locations where police were waiting, ready to arrest them. They used Facebook, Craigslist and even Google to solicit adds for underage sex.

Last week their sting paid off.

Police arrested four men. The first is Shawn Charlee, 35, drove almost 400 miles from Tuba City Arizona to have sex with a girl he thought was just 13-years-old. He was greeted by Santa Fe police when he showed up at an apartment to meet her.

Octaviano Vigil, 36, was also arrested after he posted an advertisement on Craigslist wanting a 'no strings attached' relationship. He emailed and texted elicit messages and photos to a detective he thought was a 15-year-old girl.

Hunter Shumaker, 20, did the same thing, but the self proclaimed University of New Mexico law student thought he was going to sleep with a 14-year-old girl. Shumaker even asked if one of her friends would join them.

The fourth suspect Jared Oshell, 34, became violent with his messages when undercover cops wouldn't send him a picture of the girl they were pretending to be. Oshell even threatened to show up at her high school and spread rumors about her to all her friends. Police say his message were very disturbing and extremely elicit.

All of the men face charges for criminal sexual communication with a child and online child solicitation.

Police also say they're not done with case yet. They expect six more arrests.

Santa Fe Police also want to thank Santa Fe Chevrolet for making this bust possible by providing the undercover vehicles.