5 Arrested For Targeting Children For Sex

Authorities have said five men from southern Minnesota, including one from Faribault, have been arrested for targeting children online for sex. They were caught after chatting online with someone they thought was a 14-year-old girl and also arranging to meet with the girl for sex.

The suspects were identified as 43-year-old Donald Black of Owatonna, 43-year-old Chan Briggs of Worthington, 25-year-old Tommy Bennett Jr. of Waseca, 27-year-old Adam Trimble of Faribault, and 37-year-old Brian Wilkie of Medford. They were arrested pending charges of attempted third-degree criminal sexual assault and solicitation of a minor.

Four of the suspects will be arraigned in Steele County and one faces arraignment in Olmsted County.

Departments included in the investigation are the Owatonna, Waseca and Blooming Prairie police departments; the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension; the Minnesota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force; and the South Central Drug Investigation Unit.