November 24th 2023.
The Coweta County Sheriff’s Office conducted an undercover human trafficking operation on Nov. 16, resulting in the arrest of 26 individuals, including Stephen Hovanic, a prominent figure identified as the chief of staff for Defense Department schools in the United States. The two-day operation was aimed at combatting human trafficking, but it uncovered a web of illicit activities that shocked the community.
At 64 years old, Hovanic, a resident of Sharpsburg, is now facing a charge of pandering, a misdemeanor in Georgia. According to Stars and Stripes, a military publication, Hovanic held a key role in overseeing children’s education within the Defense Department schools.
The arrest occurred during an undercover operation in which Hovanic allegedly solicited sex from an undercover officer in a motel room. The Coweta County Sheriff’s Office reported that the charges against the 26 individuals included pandering, prostitution, and pimping.
In addition to the arrests, the human trafficking sting also provided assistance to victims of trafficking. Six women were identified as victims of human trafficking and were offered help to escape their circumstances. Sgt. Toby Nix of the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office stated, “The victims were taken to an undisclosed ‘safe house,’ where they will receive the help they need to move forward from the heinous crime of human trafficking. All females contacted in this operation were offered the same assistance, with some refusing any aid. Pandering is not a victimless crime, as the demand for prostitution drives the sex trafficking market.”
Hovanic, however, maintains his innocence and has asserted that he believed he was procuring a massage, not engaging in illegal sexual activities. This defense raises questions about the nature of the encounter.
The Sheriff’s Office has indicated that the investigation is ongoing, suggesting the potential of additional arrests and charges. This operation serves as an important reminder of the prevalence of human trafficking, even in seemingly unsuspecting communities, and the arrests demonstrate the commitment law enforcement has to combating such heinous crimes.
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