Desert Messenger

December 21, 2016 www.DesertMessenger.com 29 We have great lunch menus, serving at 12 noon sharp! Suggested donation is only $3.50. There's cards, books, games, puzzles, pool table, Wi-Fi available. Community Services, Volunteers Needed! Come join the fun at Quartzsite SENIOR Center 40 Moon Mountain Ave. For more information call 928-927-6496 Senior Center open all year! Monday - Friday, 9am – 3pm Bouse pastor/former Quartzsite teacher arrested • Old Costume Jewelry • Old Fountain Pens • Silver & Gold Coins • Sterling Silverware • Gold Filled Jewelry • Old Watches • Gold & Silver Jewelry Any Condition • Gold Nuggets • Dental Gold BUYING • Gold Nuggets Hi Ally Swap Meet ~ Front Row Main St., Quartzsite MESA, AZ - The Mesa Police Depart- ment issued a press release issued Monday, December 12, 2016. Theodore Finkbeiner, a Baptist Pas- tor from Bouse, Arizona and former Quartzsite Elementary teacher was among several others arrested in a sex sting operation in Arizona, according to the Mesa Police Department. According to the press release, "Mesa Police detectives completed another operation targeting sexual predators trying to engage in sex acts with underage juveniles. Op- eration Home Schooled utilized undercover detectives posing as 13- and 14-year-old juveniles and traf- fi ckers chatting on commonly used internet sites where suspects seek out illegal sex acts. The suspects solicited and/or brokered deals for various sex acts with the minor and were arrested when they responded to the location where they were sup- posed to meet the minor for sex. The suspects in the latest opera- tion ranged in age from 23 to 66 years old, including Theodore Finkbeiner, age 66. Finkbeiner faces charges of Attempted Sexual Conduct with a Minor, a Class 3 Felony. Finkbeiner retired from Quartzsite Elementary School last year after teaching 7th & 8 graders in Quartzsite. In a statement to Desert Messen- ger, from Theodore Finkbeiner stated, "As a point of clarifi cation, this report does not report that the allegation was not substanti- ated, and no charge has been fi led. Therefore, it is incumbent upon you to report the full story, which is that the allegation has not been substantiated." Upon further ques- tioning he responded, "I am inno- cent of the allegation. On adice [sic ] of counsel, I will add nothing to this statement." The press release continued, "Each year the Mesa Police Department conducts operations of this type in a continuous effort to remove these predators from our community. Mesa Police said, "Suspects willing to solicit sex acts with children are some of the most dangerous crimi- nals in our society." This operation was a collaborative ef- fort between the Mesa Police Depart- ment and Operation Underground Railroad (OUR). We also want to recognize the Hickey Family Founda- tion, AZ Men, and our local business partners: Empire Southwest and the Treehouse Group, for their invalu- able support of this initiative. Arrested in the sting were: Theodore Finkbeiner, 66 Bouse, Arizona Attempted Sexual Conduct with a Minor, Class 3 Felony James M Lanta, 54 Gilbert, Arizona Sex Traffi cking, Class 2 Felony Child Prostitution, Class 2 Felony Kelly T Davis, 52 Mesa, Arizona Attempted Sexual Conduct with a Minor, Class 3 Felony Furnishing Harmful Items to a Mi- nor, Class 4 Felony Jason M Garcia, 50 Mesa, Arizona Sex Traffi cking, Class 2 Felony Child Prostitution, Class 2 Felony Anthony Kueneman, 41 Gilbert, Arizona Sex Traffi cking, Class 2 Felony Child Prostitution, Class 2 Felony Failure to Have Sex Offender ID, Class 6 Felony Faisal El Samaryi, 41 Mesa, Rziona Sex Traffi cking, Class 2 Felony Child Prostitution, Class 2 Felony Cam R. Chambers, 39 Las Vegas, Nevada Sex Traffi cking, Class 2 Felony Child Prostitution, Class 2 Felony Kyle J. Pierce, 26 Mesa, Arizona Attempted Sexual Conduct with a Minor, Class 3 Felony Luring a Minor for Sex, Class 3 Felony Logan Duran, 23 Gilbert, Arizona Attempted Sexual Conduct with a Minor, Class 3 Felony Furnishing Harmful Items to a Mi- nor, Class 4 Felony Timothy W. Eastman, 45 Avondale, Arizona Child Prostitution, Class 2 Felony Attempted Sexual Conduct with a Minor, Class 3 Felony

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