Dawson County Attorney Olivia Rieger, working with the Montana Department of Justice's Criminal Investigation Division, has charged Steven Cory Unger and John Allyn Parker with one count each of Felony Sexual Abuse of Children.

Spokesman John Barnes with the Office of Attorney General Tim Fox, said the arrests were made last Friday.

"The suspects were arrested after responding in person to prostitution advertisements DCI agents placed on Craigslist and Backpage.com," Barnes said. "When initially responding to the ads online, the suspects were notified that the females would be 13 and 15 years old. They then made arrangements to come to Glendive."

Barnes said both were arrested and placed in the Dawson County Jail.

"Unger is 25 and is from the Glasgow area and Parker, who is 37 years old,  traveled from Watford City,North Dakota. Both were bound over from justice court to Dawson County District Court yesterday," he said.  "They will make their first court appearance next Tuesday. Unger was released on $75,000 bond, while Parker is currently at the Dawson County Correctional Facility."

According to a news release from the Attorney General's office, several individuals and agencies were instrumental in the arrests.

Dawson County Undersheriff Ross Canen and Glendive Police Chief Ty Ulrich were instrumental in this undercover operation. The Billings Police Department, the Flathead,Dawson, and Blaine County Sheriff’s Offices,Montana’s Internet Crimes against Children task force, the Montana Gambling Control Division,North Dakota’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the FBI, and the Department of Homeland Security also assisted.

In December of 2013, Missoula authorities conducted a similar sting operation, during which seven individuals were apprehended and charged with Sexual Abuse of Children.

 

 

 

 

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