• Tweet
• Share
• Email
• Print

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Forty men are behind bars, including a teacher, after an Internet sex predator sting called "Operation Spiderweb," according to the Lee County Sheriff's Office.

"These are monsters, they're sick creepy animals," said Sheriff Mike Scott. "And they're in jail where they belong facing heavy charges."

The operation began on Oct. 22, with 44 deputies working to identify the accused men, who range in age from 18 to 50, and were seeking sex from kids between the ages of 11-15 years old.

"Some were for little girls, some were for little boys," said Scott.

Among those who were arrested was Isaiah Jones, who once worked in the athletic department  at Lehigh Senior High School.

"I couldn't believe it, it shocked me," said tenth grader Justin Love. "I can't believe that would happen here."

The 16-year-old told Fox 4 that he has not seen Jones on campus since last school year but remembers him well.

"He was kind of a quiet coach," said Justin. "I never really talk to him but I've seen him a couple times in the gym. He was playing basketball."

Another Lee County School employee was also among those arrested during the week-long sting operation.

Chris Cheplevich,  a teachers at North Nicholas High School, was arrested on Tuesday in an apparent attempt to have sex with a 14-year-old boy.

Others on the list also include an active member of the US military, 2 FGCU students and a pool boy.

"We want people looking over their shoulder," said Scott. "We want the others that would get online tonight or tomorrow or the next day or until the next operation occurs to wonder who they're chatting with and who they're talking to."

The operation took five months of preparation and utilized a home in Lee County where the arrests took place.

A few of the felons arrived in possession of illegal narcotics and were additionally charged.

At least one subject was determined to be in the U.S. illegally and two others were being reviewed by ICE.