Two Men, One From Arcata, Arrested For Soliciting Sex With Decoy 14-Year-Old, Says Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office

This is a press release from the Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office. The information has not been proven in a court of law and any individuals described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty:

Please take the time to talk to your children about the risks associated with social media. Do it as often as possible and check in on their activity. A child’s expectation to privacy should not outweigh a parents obligation to keep them safe.
The Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of World Wide Predator Hunters (WWPH), has made two arrests involving soliciting underage children with the intent to commit sexual acts.
World Wide Predator Hunters is a volunteer organization that uses adults who pose as underage decoys. In both incidents the suspects initiated contact with the decoy, who was posing as a 14 year old. The decoy made it very clear within the initial contact that they were 14. Within in minutes the subjects turn the conversation sexual in nature, asking very explicit sexual questions. As the conversations progressed the subjects describe the lewd sexual acts they want to perform on the 14 year old.
One suspect, identified as Conner Arellano (25 years old), initiated contact with the decoy on 2/9/21. The decoy advised that they were a 14 year old female. Arellano turned the conversation sexual within 24 hours. He arranged to meet the “child” on 2/14/21 but backed out. On 2/15/21 Arellano arranged to meet again near Pebble Beach in Del Norte County and showed up. DNSO Investigators observed Arellano drive to the designated turnout. They were able to detain Arellano and he was arrested without incident. He was booked into the Del Norte County Jail on the following charges:
288.3 PC, Contact with a Minor with Intent to Commit a Sexual Act, 288.4 PC, Arrange a Meeting with a Minor for Sexual Purposes and 664/288 PC, Attempted Lewd and Lascivious Acts with a minor.
Jesse Shenk

Jesse Shenk

The Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office was also conducting an additional investigation that was initiated on 1/22/21. Jesse Shenk (31 years old) made arrangements to travel to Del Norte County from the City of Arcata to pick up a 14 year old (decoy) twice, but due to weather was unable to come. The suspect expressed being very apprehensive about traveling to Del Norte County. He even sent the decoy a link to an article detailing a previous, similar investigation conducted by the DNSO.

On Thursday, 2/25/21, Shenk traveled to Klamath, CA. Investigators believe he intended to transport whom he believed to be a 14 year old child to his residence in Arcata to perform sexual acts. Those acts included sharing graphic pornographic photos of himself, oral copulation, sexual intercourse, as well as sodomy. An arrest warrant was issued and Del Norte County Sheriff’s Investigators with help from the Arcata Police Department’s Detective Unit served the arrest and search warrant on Shenk, on 3/4/21. Shenk was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Humboldt County jail to be transported to the Del Norte County Jail to be booked on the following charges:
311.2 PC, production, distribution of obscene matter, 313.1(a) PC, distribution and exhibition of harmful matter to a minor, 288.3 (a) PC, contact or communicate with a minor with intent to commit specified offenses, 288.4(a)(1) PC, arrangement of meeting with a minor for the purpose of engaging in lewd acts, 664/288(a) attempted lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 years of age, 664/287, attempted oral copulation and 664/286 attempted sodomy.
Sheriff Apperson said “As disturbing as the details surrounding these arrests are, there are some very positive takeaways. With the help of World Wide Predator Hunters our team was able to investigate and arrest these predators before they victimized someone. We may never know how long they have been up to this sort of activity but this investigation puts them on our radar. I also appreciate the reputation we are building for being an unsafe place for people attempting to carry out this sort of criminal behavior. Ultimately, one of the suspects committed the crime but did not want to come to Del Norte County based on recent and similar arrests. In response, we came to him. I am proud of the effort demonstrated by our DNSO team and thankful for the agencies that assisted us. I am also grateful for the ongoing support from our Del Norte District Attorney’s Office. My hope is that these predators continue to think twice before targeting people in Del Norte. And as always, all suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. They have a right to bail, just like anyone else.”
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31 Comments
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Cordwainer Bird
Guest
Cordwainer Bird
3 years ago

Two more for P.C.

Dano
Guest
Dano
3 years ago

All of CDCR is mainline now.

Joe
Guest
Joe
3 years ago
Reply to  Dano

Sure hope that’s true!

HOJ in Training
Guest
HOJ in Training
3 years ago

Idiot knew it was a set-up, but couldn’t resist. That is one desperate dude that also looks like he has a Liver problem.

Anonymous for fear of community reprisal
Guest
Anonymous for fear of community reprisal
3 years ago

Lol reminds me of when we had our children at Mad River Hospital. They were convinced our first one had jaundice because she was a little yellow looking under the florescent lighting. It wasn’t until I open the curtains to our room and put her in direct sunlight that they finally decided not to treat her as if she had jaundice. Don’t mean to talk shit about Mad River they actually have a very good Birthing Center.

Muddy Black Dodge
Guest
3 years ago

Dirt bags.

Bees Knees
Guest
Bees Knees
3 years ago

Parents…protect your children. Educate them. These adult predators and what they want to do to children is hard to talk about, but it will save your kiddos from a life time of trauma. Talk to them.

Life really sucks
Guest
Life really sucks
3 years ago

Put them down,ya no it was not there first time & it wont be there last.Cant fix them & they always do it again. Put them down.

Farce
Guest
Farce
3 years ago

These are predators. Predators who prey on their own community. Leaving behind a trail of broken humans. Capital Punishment should be considered. But our Misplaced Compassion has clouded our morality- we protect predators and do not protect our children. We need to take a hard look at our priorities as a society…

Who's really to blame ?
Guest
Who's really to blame ?
3 years ago

As much as we’d like to applaud these efforts, take one second to look at this logically and it has a slight whiff of entrapment.

I bet the only 14 year olds on the internet bragging about being 14, and up for dangerous sexual shenanigans described here are decoys!

I challenge WWPH or anyone who believes this nonsense, to find even one 14 year old on the internet behaving like their decoys do. If they find any, take away their internet, and publicly shame their parents, since predators are nothing in this scenario without the luring unsupervised “victim.”

Pity for Predators
Guest
Pity for Predators
3 years ago

The two adult men who willingly initiated sexual conversations with what they believed to be a child are definitely to blame.

Guest
Guest
Guest
3 years ago

Sticking up for pedophiles says something about you. Sick .

Who's really to blame ?
Guest
Who's really to blame ?
3 years ago
Reply to  Guest

Because critical thinking and reading comprehension are dead these days. Some will blindly believe there are loads of 14 year old children offering themselves up to online predators. I question that, which is much different than “sticking up for a pedo.” I could make ridiculous ASSumptions about you too, But won’t.

Anonymous for fear of community reprisal
Guest
Anonymous for fear of community reprisal
3 years ago

considered reported cases of online child abuse has risen 45% sense covid lockdown started, I would think this is not an isolated incident . Nor is every underage child being abused on the internet a product of a sting operation. In fact most estimates are in the 450,000 + range a year of underage children being solicited on internet.

Are we no longer allowed to post links to the information to back up our claims, like many MSM sites have started doing. I tried posting this comment with a link to the guardian and it would not go through, the second I removed the link it posted with no problem. I sure hope this is not a new policy?

Predators are Sickening
Guest
Predators are Sickening
3 years ago

You are very right . . . in fact . . . a decoy usually gets like 30-40 hits(contacts) within 10 mins of posting a pic . . . just an everyday run of the mill pic . . nothing sexual but something that 14 and 15 year olds wear. And the things these predators say is literally so disgusting and sickening. WWPH does this because of our love and concern for children . . . we all have our own reasons but what matters to us is keeping children safe . . and we will never stop!

I like stars
Guest
I like stars
3 years ago

I agree with the Pity and Guest. The pedo is the person to blame. Freedom requires personal responsibility. Preying on children is despicable. Pedos who act on their desires should be punished severely. In my opinion, almost no punishment could be too severe. Those who try to excuse or normalize pedophilia should be called out every single time, the way you are being called out here.

I challenge you to explain to everybody why you are defending pedophiles!!!
Guest
I challenge you to explain to everybody why you are defending pedophiles!!!
3 years ago

Seriously? You are seriously taking the side of the predator !!! THANK God that these POS were talking to decoys because had it been a 14 year old child the would have been RAPED, SODOMIZED and who knows what else . . possibly even been sold into human trafficking!!! Do you have children? Nieces, nephews, grand children??? Let me enlighten you a bit . ., first, the decoy is NOT law enforcement so entrapment doesn’t apply. Know your laws . . because WWPH does!!!! Everything WWPH does is legal and any decent, law abiding person who cares about children support all efforts in protecting childdren. The decoy does not initiate contact with ANYBODY on the website, they merely post their picture and wait to be contacted. Once they are contacted by anybody they identify themselves as a 14 or 15 year old CHILD within the first 4 or 5 sentences . . at this point all decent, normal people discontinue the conversation. However, if a PEDOPHILE continues the conversation THEY lead the conversation to sexual context . . . the decoy does not “lure” them into anything . . I’m curious why you are defend the pedophiles and consider posting a pic is luring anybody to do anything. The only thing that you are accurate about is that parents need to monitor their child’s activity on all of their devices . . if there weren’t perverts out there WWPH would not have anybody contacting them and talking about all of the things these pedophiles want to do them. So . . I challenge you to explain to everybody on here why YOU are defending pedophiles . . . . go ahead . . I’ll wait!

Who's really to blame ?
Guest
Who's really to blame ?
3 years ago

It’s a TV show.

No great crimes against children are stopped by this charade .

From their own website: https://worldwidepredatorhunters.org/

“NO ONE under the age of 18 is EVER involved with WWPH stings. ”

So can the charges stick? They also have been sued numerous times, probably because of flaws like this in their mission.

I will point one thing out. Just like significant theft, personal assaults and
yes, most homicides, it’s the close friend, lover, or family member, that betrays you.

It’s the trusted baby sitter, the boy/man next door, the uncle or housemate that , with easy and consistent access, gains the trust and potential to exploit underage children sexually. Those are the pedos that live among us and are pervasive in their damage. And that remain undetected.

But luring them in over a dating website makes for good TV.

Sadly, child neglect, and abuse is alive and well, and will continue to be so in spite of televised “reality” clown shows like this.

Lady
Guest
Lady
3 years ago

Not saying these creeps were right, but I’m confused.
“WWPH that uses adults who pose as underage decoys. ”
All the charges state “with a minor.”
So, were the decoys adults or minors? If they were adults… How do those charges apply?

Guests
Guest
Guests
3 years ago
Reply to  Lady

I think your sticking up for pedophiles and it makes me sick

Lady
Guest
Lady
3 years ago
Reply to  Guests

Nope, I’m saying the charges need to be changed so these; and others like them cannot be released because of a loop hole.

288.3 PC, Contact with a Minor with Intent to Commit a Sexual Act.

Where is the minor if they are adults. [Isn’t that fraud, also illegal]
Simply change the charges, swap the wording..

288.3 PC, INTENT TO Contact with a Minor with Intent to Commit a Sexual Act.

I hope they get locked up and receive the “prison justice” sick people like this deserve.

Tommy Daugherty
Guest
Tommy Daugherty
3 years ago
Reply to  Lady

Please read the California Penal Code thoroughly if you cite it. PC 288.4B states it is illegal to show up to meet a minor or “believed minor” for sexual reasons. These men are ABSOLUTELY prosecutable even though they were talking to an adult decoy.

Lady
Guest
Lady
3 years ago

Ahh, that’s good news. Thanks for sharing.

Duhh
Guest
Duhh
3 years ago
Reply to  Lady

Same way a cop can bust you for soliciting despite not being a board certified prostitute..

As a parent, it would be good to hear what tech platform these guys are using to find the kids..

Who's really to blame ?
Guest
Who's really to blame ?
3 years ago
Reply to  Lady

The facts don’t matter to most people. Good point. You will be punished for it.

Lady
Guest
Lady
3 years ago

Pretending to be someone else is fraudulent and also illegal

Can't fix stupid
Guest
Can't fix stupid
3 years ago
Reply to  Lady

Decoys do not impersonate somebody’s identity . . . and it is very legal . . . . you need to learn the legal system before making ignorant comments. So . . why are you defending pedophiles?

burblestein
Guest
burblestein
3 years ago

Stripped of legalese, the offense is brainless depravity. No sympathy here. Predators should be caged.

HotCoffee
Guest
HotCoffee
3 years ago

Thank you World Wide Predator Hunters

Keep up the good work! Some posters here don’t seem to realize these children could have also been abducted by these predators as no one would know where they were. I’m sure they wouldn’t tell their parents where they were going, if the predators had actually contacted their intended targets.

The posters would be here wondering where are all the missing children.

Who's really to blame ?
Guest
Who's really to blame ?
3 years ago
Reply to  HotCoffee

What children? The fake decoys?

It’s a live broadcast on Facebook.

No real 14 year olds were ever in any danger in the making of these luring and alluring charades.

Many law enforcement agencies, including Arcata, refuse to even work with this vigilante group. That says a lot right there.

Observe the nicotine puffing, soda swilling, head of operations featured in their fb videos. He’s high mileage and rough around the edges; personally not the guy I want {pretending} to be “looking out” for anyone.

Concerned Mother
Guest
Concerned Mother
1 year ago

This guy is part of the fake Nazi group called the GDL which is really just the ADL doing black propaganda.