Bartholomew County Sheriff Chris Lane announced that five men were arrested after a coordinated undercover operation targeting individuals who investigators said were seeking unlawful contact with minors. The operation was led by the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, with participation from multiple state and local agencies.

Suspects and charges

The men arrested include David Hahn, 48, of Mt. Washington, Kentucky; Matthew Ciske, 48, of Richmond, Indiana; Andrew Donat, 59, of Indianapolis, Indiana; Luis Nunez Machuca, 37, of Streamwood, Illinois; and Nathan Jones, 49, of Thorntown, Indiana. All five traveled a combined distance of more than 400 miles to Columbus, Indiana, believing they would meet children for sexual contact.

Four of the suspects – Hahn, Ciske, Donat, and Machuca – are charged with child solicitation and attempted sexual contact with a minor, both classified as Level 4 felonies. Nathan Jones faces a Level 4 felony charge of child solicitation, a Level 6 felony charge of possession of methamphetamine, and misdemeanor charges for possession of marijuana and paraphernalia.

Law‑enforcement collaboration

The sting operation involved a broad coalition of agencies, including the Indiana State Police, Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office, Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office, Columbus Police Department, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Bloomington Police Department, Jennings County Sheriff’s Office, Howard County Sheriff’s Office, Clinton County Sheriff’s Office, Jeffersonville Police Department, Westfield Police Department, and the Indiana Intelligence Fusion Center.

Sheriff Lane emphasized the ongoing commitment to protect children, stating, “We will continue to work with fellow law enforcement agencies everywhere to capture offenders against children and hold them accountable.”

Community impact

The arrests underscore the importance of vigilance in online spaces where predators may attempt to exploit minors. Parents and guardians are urged to monitor their children’s internet activity and to educate them about the dangers of interacting with unknown individuals online.

Local law‑enforcement officials encourage anyone with information about similar activities to contact their nearest police department or the ICAC Task Force. The coordinated effort demonstrates how inter‑agency cooperation can effectively disrupt predatory behavior and safeguard vulnerable youth across state lines.

Original reporting: WLKY Louisville — read the source article.