On July 21, 2013, the Tucson Police Department initiated an investigation into a report of a 13-year old boy, who was soliciting adult companionship. Family members of the boy immediately notified police after they learned numerous communications transpired between the boy and various adult males. It was discovered that the 13-year old boy posted an advertisement in mid-July of this year. Detectives from the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit assumed the investigation and began to correspond with the males while pretending to be the 13-year old boy. During the communications, the detectives advised the males that “he” was an underage juvenile; they continued to correspond with “him” anyway.
One of the males, later identified as Thomas Hand (64-years old), described explicit sexual acts in which he wished to engage with the 13-year old boy. A meeting location and date were established between the detectives and Mr. Hand. On July 24, 2013, Mr. Hand arrived at a pre-determined location expecting to meet with the boy. Instead, detectives from the ICAC Unit as well as personnel from the United States Marshal’s Service (USMS) took Mr. Hand into custody. He was ultimately charged with 1 count of Luring of a Minor for Sexual Exploitation and 1 count of Attempted Sexual Conduct With a Minor, both felony offenses. He was transported and booked into the Pima County Jail. A booking photograph of Mr. Hand is included below.
Another male, later identified as Jaime Miguel Campos Jr. (26-years old), sent explicit photographs to the 13-year old boy during the course of their communications. Further, much like Mr. Hand, Mr. Campos described explicit sexual acts in which he wished to engage with the 13-year old boy. A meeting date and location were also established between the detectives and Mr. Campos. On July 25, 2013, Mr. Campos arrived at a pre-determined location expecting to meet with the boy. Once again, detectives from the ICAC Unit as well as personnel from the USMS arrived and took Mr. Campos into custody. He was ultimately charged with 1 count of Aggravated Luring of a Minor for Sexual Exploitation as well as 1 count of Attempted Sexual Conduct with a Minor, both felony offenses. He was transported and booked into the Pima County Jail. A booking photograph is included below.
It should be noted that Mr. Campos was employed as a kindergarten teacher in Sells, Arizona. The ICAC Unit detectives notified the superintendent of the school district in Sells, Arizona and advised him of both the investigation and arrest involving Mr. Campos. In addition, during the course of their investigation, the ICAC Unit detectives learned that Mr. Campos was a suspect in another unrelated investigation involving a young female. That investigation was conducted by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.
The ICAC Unit detectives have continued examining various leads into other possible inappropriate interactions between the 13-year old boy and adult males. In order to maintain the integrity of other potential investigations, the public notification regarding the arrests of Mr. Hand and Mr. Campos was withheld. At this point, the detectives do not anticipate any further arrests resulting from interactions adult males had with who they believed to be the underage boy.
The Tucson Police Department encourages parents and guardians of children to be diligent about communicating with them about their interactions with adults. Also, we recommend that you institute rules and practices regarding your child or children’s online presence in order to be aware of their activities and communications. Our thanks go out to the family of the 13-year old boy for bringing the communications he was having with various adult males to our attention so that investigations could be initiated.
