Georgia Seniors Arrested in Sex Sting Operation

Parents taking their children to some parks in Hall County, Georgia might want to take certain precautions when using the public restrooms, as five men (including two seniors) were arrested in a sex sting operation.

INDECENT PROPOSALS

Along Hall County's Lake Lanier boat docks, there has been a recent flurry of illegal activity. Citizens visiting Little River Park, Balus Creek, and Lula Park have reported the occurrences of lewd and indecent behavior near the public restroom facilities. According to the complaints submitted to the Hall County Sheriff's office, some park dwellers have been receiving sexual propositions from men at the park.

Police reports indicate that some of these men have been utilizing the parking lots for better access to the public restrooms. Those turning down the indecent proposals are said to have sparked the police investigation.

Major Jeff Strickland of the Hall County Sheriff's department claimed that the department received "several calls from people trying to use the parks." He also claimed that any time the department receives alarming calls from the public, those complaints are looked into.

THE CRACKDOWN...

On May 2^nd and 3^rd of 2007, the Hall County police department deployed undercover officers to the various parks mentioned in the complaints. Strickland explained that the undercover decoys purposely loitered near the restrooms with the hope of attracting one of the offenders. He states:

"Our undercover officers went to the different parks that we received information on. And they just loitered around the restroom, when they were approached by these individuals."

Thus far, a total of five men have been arrested at three different parks during the sting. These men have been arrested for soliciting for oral sex and/or for exposing themselves to the undercover officers. Of those five men were 71 year-old Melvin Burt, who was charged with public indecency, and 85 year-old Otto "Whitey" Butler. Per police records, Butler is a "prominent Gainesville resident" and had previously served as Hall County Extension Service Director. He was also recently inducted into Hall County's Agribusiness Hall of Fame. He was arrested for a solicitation of sodomy.

Three other men were arrested in the sting operation: Gordon Kenneth Lamos (49 years old), David Michael Woodward (47 years old), and Robert Goleman (32 years old). The collection of charges hold maximum penalties of at least a year in jail, and a $1,000 fine for each charge.