Dozens arrested on child sex charges

More than two dozen men are facing child sex charges in connection with a federal, state and local investigation dubbed "Operation Safe Summer."

The Brevard County Sheriff's Office in conjunction with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations division and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement worked together to arrest 26 men in the operation that began in May and ended this week.

Most of the 26 men arrested are facing child porn charges, but a few are accused of soliciting officers posing as kids online.

"We are undercover in chat rooms, and we do get contacted," said Brevard County Sheriff's Office Lt. Tod Goodyear. "Some people won't travel, but they may be sending us harmful material. They may be on video doing things that they shouldn't be doing."

Among those arrested were a Brevard County Public Schools employee, 32-year-old Steven Waring, and a police officer in Kentucky, 37-year-old David Williams.

"When you run across somebody that is supposed to be protecting children, supposed to be protecting the citizens like we are, it is sickening to us," said Goodyear.

ICE Special Agent Susan McCormick tells us this operation should put child predators on notice.

"You cannot hide," said McCormick. "We will find you."

The following defendants were arrested during Operation Safe Summer:

Robert Adams, 45, Deerfield Beach, FL Lewd & Lascivious Exhibition and Solicitation

Blake Adkins, 24, Orlando, FL Solicitation & Travel to engage in sex with a minor

Jasen Anderson, 20, Edgewater, FL Possession and Distribution of Child Porn

Thomas Baker, 53, Apopka, FL Possession and Distribution of Child Porn

Roger Berkley, 50, Grant, FL Possession and Distribution of Child Porn

Grant Blackburn, 27, Deland, FL Possession of Child Porn

Mark Boykin, 42, Melbourne, FL Possession and Receipt of Child Porn

Thomas Brannock, 52, West Melbourne, FL Possession of Child Porn

Jason Casey, 36, Daytona Beach, FL Possession of Child Porn

Michael Channell, 42, Indialantic, FL Possession of Child Porn

Donald Cooney, 68, Winter Haven, FL Possession and Distribution of Child Porn

Jake Decker, 36, Ogden, UT Possession of Child Porn

Manuel Fernandez, 36, Royal Palm Beach, FL Solicitation & Travel to engage in sex with a minor

Bradley Fox, 20, Cocoa, FL Possession and receipt of Child Porn

Rafael Gonzalez, 50, Palm Bay, FL Possession and Distribution of Child Porn

James Gray Jr., 24, Port Orange, FL Possession of Child Porn

Norman Harman, 39, Clermont, FL Possession and Distribution of Child Porn

Joseph Hicks, 44, Rochester, NY Possession of Child Porn

Samuel Langfitt III, 72, Cocoa Beach, FL Possession and Distribution of Child Porn

Shaun Lockhart, 23, Palm Bay, FL Possession of Child Porn

Jonathan Slade, 44, Merritt Island, FL Possession of Child Porn

Phillip Trott, 49, Cape Coral, FL Lewd & Lascivious Exhibition and Solicitation

Brandon Tucker, 22, Titusville, FL Possession of Child Porn

Steven Waring, 32, Cocoa, FL Possession and Distribution of Child Porn

Michael Westervelt, 24, Orlando, FL Possession and Distribution of Child Porn

David Williams, 37, West Point, KY Lewd Exhibition and Solicitation