This weekend the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office teamed up with other agencies to further investigations into child trafficking and soliciting minors. Two arrests were made. Additional charges are expected against other people under investigation.
Mark Alan Armstead (59 years old of Dunbar, WV) was arrested for soliciting and traveling to engage in sex with a minor after investigators caught him trying to lure a 13 year old male to meet him to engage in sex acts. Jonathan Vazquez-Gonzales (35 years old of Nitro, WV) was arrested for soliciting and traveling to engage in sex with a minor after investigators caught him trying to lure a 14 year old female to meet him to engage in sex acts. The crimes are felonies which carry sentences of 5-30 years incarceration and up to $25,000 fines.
These investigations were conducted by the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, Dunbar Police Department, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, West Virginia State Police: Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. As is always the case in criminal matters, the charges against Mr. Armstead and Mr. Vasquez-Gonzales are merely accusations. Each is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
