LAPORTE, IND. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The LaPorte County Sheriff's Office arrested four men during a sting operation dubbed "Santa Sweep" after they were found to be noncompliant on Indiana’s Sex and Violent Offender Registry, according to a LaPorte County Sheriff's Office press release.
The "Santa Sweep" operation took place between 2:30 and 5:30 a.m. Saturday following Det. Gab Struss' investigation of the four sex offenders.
Arthur E. Newkirk Sr., Matthew A. Wunder, Robert D. Raymond and Harry E. Wilson were arrested for failure to register as a sex or violent offender, which is a level 6 felony that carries a possible prison sentence of six months to two-and-a-half years in Indiana.
The men were transported to LaPorte County Jail where Wunder and Newkirk were later released after posting bond, according to the LaPorte County Sheriff's Office.
Raymond and Wilson remain jailed and are being held on a $755-cash-only bond through the LaPorte County Circuit Court. The LaPorte County Sheriff's Office said all four men have been convicted of crimes that require them to register as sex offenders.
Newkirk and Wunder both were convicted of child molestation while Raymond was convicted of third degree criminal sexual conduct and Wilson was convicted of second degree sexual assault of a child, the Indiana’s Sex and Violent Offender Registry states.