AURORA, Colo. — Two suspects, including an airline pilot, were arrested in Aurora following a multi-agency online child predator operation that began last month.
The Aurora Police Department (APD) Internet Crimes Against Children Unit was one of the agencies involved.
Ralph Edward Bledsoe, 68, of Florissant and Gregory Thomas Daniels, 39, of Aurora were both arrested, APD said.
Bledsoe, an airline pilot, was arrested on Tuesday after he arrived at an Aurora hotel, where he thought he would meet up with a minor for a sexual encounter, police said. Investigators also recovered several sexual “gifts” he had sent ahead of time, APD said.
He was booked into jail on charges of internet luring of a child, internet sexual exploitation of a child and attempted sex assault of a child.
He does not have a prior criminal history. However, detectives learned that he may have had sexual encounters with minors in Denver, Pennsylvania, and Phoenix, and they found that he had flown in from Canada for the meeting at the Aurora hotel.
“Bledsoe being an airline pilot and the possibility of previous sexual relationships with underaged victims raises significant concerns about the potential of there being victims throughout the country,” said Seth Robertson, lieutenant of the Aurora Police Department Special Victims Section. “His arrest does not mean this investigation is over. Our detectives are working diligently with local, state and federal partners throughout the country to try to identify additional victims and to ensure they receive the justice they deserve.”
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Daniels was arrested on April 2 after he went to what he believed was a planned meeting to engage in sexual activity with a minor, APD said. He was arrested by officers and booked into jail on charges of internet luring of a child and attempted sex assault of a child.
“As a police officer and father, I am appalled by these disgusting crimes that target children within our community,” said Mark Hildebrand, chief of the APD Investigations Division. “It is the truest representation of evil. It is impressive to see so many law enforcement agencies come together for such an important cause to protect our youngest and most vulnerable. I am very proud of our ICAC Unit’s contribution and hard work in this endeavor.”
Aside from APD, the following agencies were part of this operation: Longmont Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, the Boulder County Computer Forensics Lab and the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office.
Both of these investigations are ongoing and anybody with information on either case is asked to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867). Tipsters can remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.
