Four men were arrested in The Woodlands after allegedly trying to meet a minor child for sex, the Montgomery County Precinct 3 Constable's Office announced.

Constable Ryan Gable's Child Exploitation Unit ran a proactive operation during October to identify people attempting to solicit children for sexual encounters in The Woodlands, according to Woodlands Online. Precinct 3 detectives arrested four adult males as a result.

All four were charged with Online Solicitation of a Minor Child, with each charge specifying a victim age of 14 or younger. The charge falls under Texas Penal Code Section 33.021, which classifies online solicitation of a minor as a felony offense.

The men charged are:

  • Rajat Agrawal — Online Solicitation of a Minor Child (age 14 or younger)
  • Hermides Cerdonas — Online Solicitation of a Minor Child (age 14 or younger)
  • Vicente Martinez Lopez — Online Solicitation of a Minor Child (age 14 or younger)
  • Matthew Pettit — Online Solicitation of a Minor Child (age 14 or younger) and Unlawful Carry of a Weapon

Pettit faces the additional weapons charge on top of the solicitation count.

Each suspect was taken into custody after allegedly attempting to meet in person with a minor child, the constable's office stated on its official Facebook page. All four were booked into the Montgomery County Jail.

Under Section 33.021(c), soliciting a minor to meet with the intent that the minor engage in sexual contact is a second-degree felony regardless of the minor's age, according to the Texas penal code. A conviction for online solicitation of a minor requires sex offender registration for 10 years.

The constable's office did not release specific arrest dates, the online platforms used, the locations within The Woodlands where suspects were apprehended, or bond amounts.

All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Residents who suspect online exploitation of children can report tips to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at CyberTipline.org or call 1-800-843-5678.