Edmond Johannes, a resident of Maricopa County and born in March 1985, was sentenced to 30 years in prison, followed by life probation. Yohannes was convicted after being caught up in a secret investigation operation called “Operation Tangled Web.” Maricopa County Lawyers’ Office.

According to Maricopa County Lawyers’ OfficeJohannes first contacted Grindle’s undercover detectives and believed he was talking to his father. The conversation later shifted to Kick, where Johannes asked about the age of the detective children and expressed interest in meeting them. He is said to have provided stuffed animals to a 5-year-old boy and a 10-year-old girl.

Johannes was arrested after he arrived at a pre-determined meeting attended by law enforcement, sending pictures of a stuffed animal that he intended to trade. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell stressed the severity of his intentions, saying, “Thanks to heaven. This was a secret detective, not two real children. He was convicted of two counts of child sex trafficking and two count attempts to commit sexual acts with minors classified as dangerous crimes against children. As Mitchell told reporters, “This is a predator of one child who spends a long time in prison.” Maricopa County Lawyers’ Office.