Incident Date: 2/13/24

Posted by: Media Relations

“Heartbreak” Decoy Detail Nets Eight Felony Arrests

Just before Valentine’s Day, Tulare County Sheriff’s Special Victims Unit Detectives conducted a special detail dubbed “Operation Heartbreak.”

Detectives set up underage decoy accounts on social media and immediately adults reached out to our decoys, trying to meet them in person for sexual purposes. On Feb. 12-13, Detectives did a “To Catch a Predator” type detail, and arrested adults who showed up to meet juveniles.

The following men were arrested for arranging to meet a child for lewd purposes, a felony offense:

- Milton Martinez-Rodriguez, 22, of Tulare

- Gambino Zacarias Alvarez, 39, of Reedley

- Jaden Rodriguez, 18, of Visalia

- Eleazar Olivarez, 26, of Hanford

- Miguel Rivera, 27, of Porterville

- Donavyn Castro Escobedo, 25, of Tulare

- Heraclio Nunez Gonzalez, 43, of Visalia

- Luis Rincon Garcia, 26, of Hanford

Sheriff Mike Boudreaux and the men and women of the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office remain vigilant in the prevention of adults seeking juveniles for sex. We will continue to conduct these types of operations in the future for the safety and security of our children in Tulare County.

“I want the public’s attention,” Sheriff Boudreaux said. “Everyone needs to know that there are predators looking to prey on the innocence of our children. We will be vigilant and aggressive in identifying these predators.”

Report crimes and suspicious activity to the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office at 559-733-6218, or anonymously through the Sheriff’s TipNow Program at 559-725-4194 or tcso@tipnow.com.