Two Delaware County Men Indicted in Ottawa County Child Sting
Grand jury charges Timothy Rawson and Lakshmi Anbalagan following Operation Lifeboat as public records show no local youth employment.
Two Delaware County men face felony charges in northern Ohio after an Ottawa County grand jury indicted them following a multi-agency undercover child-exploitation operation, authorities announced Oct. 1.
Timothy Rawson, 53, of Sunbury, was indicted on charges of importuning, attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, and possessing criminal tools, according to records released by the Ottawa County Prosecutor's Office. Lakshmi Anbalagan, 42, of Delaware, faces the same three felony counts.
The indictments stem from Operation Lifeboat, a three-day undercover initiative conducted Sept. 24 through Sept. 26 by the Ottawa County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, and the Catawba Island Township Police Department. During the operation, investigators created undercover profiles posing as children between the ages of 13 and 15 across various online platforms. According to prosecutors, suspects who initiated contact and expressed intent to engage in sexual acts traveled to pre-arranged physical locations believing they were meeting a child, with several suspects offering money for sexual conduct.
"Online exploitation of children is a serious and evolving threat," Ottawa County Prosecutor James VanEerten said when announcing the indictments. VanEerten confirmed that 10 men were indicted and noted that active investigations remain open on at least seven additional individuals identified during the operation, with further charges possible.
A review of accessible Delaware County public records, state occupational registries, and court databases on Tuesday, Oct. 6, showed no verified public employment, educator credentials, or formal youth-work positions associated with Rawson or Anbalagan. While the Delaware County Clerk of Courts maintains an online records system covering civil, domestic relations, felony criminal, and appellate cases, detailed case dockets, underlying indictments, and hearing schedules for the northern Ohio charges remain filed in Ottawa County Common Pleas Court.
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https://www.staytunedsandusky.com/p/10-child-predator-suspects-arrested
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Timothy Rawson, 53, of Sunbury, was indicted on charges of importuning, attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, and possessing criminal tools, according to records released by the Ottawa County Prosecutor's Office.
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Timothy Rawson, 53 (Sunbury, Ohio)Charges: Importuning, Attempted Unlawful Sexual Conduct with a Minor, Possessing Criminal Tools.
Lakshmi Anbalagan, 42, of Delaware, faces the same three felony counts.
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Lakshmi Anbalagan, 42 (Delaware, Ohio)Charges: Importuning, Attempted Unlawful Sexual Conduct with a Minor, Possessing Criminal Tools.
The indictments stem from Operation Lifeboat, a three-day undercover initiative conducted Sept. 24 through Sept. 26 by the Ottawa County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, and the Catawba Island Township Police Department.
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The arrests were made during a three-day law enforcement initiative (Sept. 24–26) dubbed Operation Lifeboat. The operation was conducted jointly by the Ottawa County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, the sheriff’s office, and the Catawba Island Township Police Department.
During the operation, investigators created undercover profiles posing as children between the ages of 13 and 15 across various online platforms.
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Investigators created undercover profiles posing as children between the ages of 13 and 15 across various online platforms.
According to prosecutors, suspects who initiated contact and expressed intent to engage in sexual acts traveled to pre-arranged physical locations believing they were meeting a child, with several suspects offering money for sexual conduct.
Read supporting passage
According to officials, suspects who initiated contact and expressed intent to engage in sexual acts traveled to pre-arranged physical locations believing they were meeting a child. Several suspects offered money in exchange for sexual conduct.
"Online exploitation of children is a serious and evolving threat," Ottawa County Prosecutor James VanEerten said when announcing the indictments.
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“Online exploitation of children is a serious and evolving threat,” said Ottawa County Prosecutor James VanEerten. “We are committed to aggressively investigating and prosecuting those who seek to harm children in all of our communities.”
VanEerten confirmed that 10 men were indicted and noted that active investigations remain open on at least seven additional individuals identified during the operation, with further charges possible.
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Prosecutor VanEerten noted that active investigations remain open on at least seven additional individuals identified during the operation, with further charges possible
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VanEerten confirmed that 10 men were indicted and noted that active investigations remain open on at least seven additional individuals identified during the operation, with further charges possible.
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A northern Ohio undercover operation looking to find sexual predators who target minors led to the indictment of ten men in Ottawa County, authorities said. Seven other people are now under investigation as a result of the operation.
https://clerkofcourts.co.delaware.oh.us/
Supporting evidence (1)
While the Delaware County Clerk of Courts maintains an online records system covering civil, domestic relations, felony criminal, and appellate cases, detailed case dockets, underlying indictments, and hearing schedules for the northern Ohio charges remain filed in Ottawa County Common Pleas Court.
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