Investigators with the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit conducted Operation Safe House for three days on July 19, 20, and 21.

SVU detectives posed as minors on various social media platforms and connected with adults who wanted to engage in sexual acts. These adults then agreed to meet with undercover agents at a specified location in Stanislaus County.

Upon arrival to the location, they were met by a group of detectives and were immediately arrested.

During the operation, 27 adult males were arrested for various crimes, including contacting a minor with the intent to commit a sex crime or other serious felonies.

Those arrested were mainly from Stanislaus County, but some traveled from Gilroy, Merced, and Stockton. Two of the men had prior convictions for sexual abuse and are current registered sex offenders.

“We are very proud of our Special Victims Unit for conducting these operations to keep our children safe,” the Sheriff’s Office said on a Facebook post.

Anyone with information on crimes related to sex crimes against children or human trafficking can call Stanislaus County Crime Stoppers at (209) 521-4636 or go stancrimetips.org.

If you or someone you know is a victim and needs immediate help, call 911 or our non-emergency dispatch at (209) 552-2468.