HILLSBORO, Ore. — Five people were arrested Thursday during a child predator sting conducted by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the Hillsboro Police Department targeting individuals seeking to engage in sexual activity with minors online.
Investigators posed as underage boys and girls on multiple dating applications, social media platforms, and other online services as part of the undercover operation on June 4, 2026. Authorities said the suspects initiated contact with the profiles and arranged meetings for what they believed would be sexual encounters with children.
When the individuals arrived at meeting locations or took substantial steps toward meeting the purported minors, they were contacted by law enforcement officers and taken into custody.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, several other individuals ended conversations immediately after learning they were communicating with someone who explicitly identified themselves as a minor.
The following individuals were arrested on charges of luring a minor and online sexual corruption of a child:
- Ashwin Chand, 23, of Beaverton
- Brendan Cook, 22, of Portland
- Craig Xiap-Jelkes, 28, of Hillsboro
- Christopher Stone, 38, of Hillsboro
- Robert Gerdes, 60, of Hillsboro
Detectives believe additional victims may be connected to the arrested individuals and are seeking further information from the public.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office said it routinely conducts undercover investigations targeting online child predators. These operations range from large-scale sting missions to ongoing day-to-day investigations aimed at identifying individuals before they can victimize actual children.
Officials noted that the Sheriff’s Office receives thousands of child abuse reports annually and emphasized that proactive enforcement efforts are an important part of protecting children from online exploitation.
Authorities also encouraged parents to stay informed about the websites, apps, and social media platforms their children use. The Sheriff’s Office offers online safety education programs for parents and community organizations upon request.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office thanked the Beaverton Police Department for assisting with the operation.
Anyone with information related to the individuals arrested in the sting is encouraged to contact the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division at 503-846-2500.
The Sheriff’s Office said the release of booking photographs is intended to assist in identifying additional criminal activity and complies with Oregon House Bill 3273.
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