The director of a California-based LGBT non-profit was among 17 men recently arrested in a sting operation to catch predators allegedly seeking to have sexual activity with children.
Gerad Slayton, 42, the recently appointed executive director of the Rainbow Resource Center based in Modesto, was charged with arranging a meeting with a minor for lewd purposes and communicating with a minor for sex.
Under the California Penal Code, Mr. Slayton’s alleged crimes face penalties including criminal fines, imprisonment, and registration as a sex offender.
The Turlock Police Department coordinated with other law enforcement agencies on “an online chat operation” on Jan. 5 and 6, which resulted in the arrest of 17 men “seeking to meet with underaged children for the purpose of sexual activity.”
“We got hits on every age,” said Turlock Police Det. Gina Giovacchini, who led the sting.
The operation took place in Turlock, a city about 15 miles southeast of Modesto, according to a Turlock PD press release.
The suspects were arrested on various felony sex-related charges and subsequently booked into the Stanislaus County Jail, where the majority are being held on a $500,000 bail.
No further information was provided regarding the specifics of Mr. Slayton’s charges.
Rainbow Resource Center, the LGBT non-profit where Mr. Slayton had worked since 2022 before recently being promoted to executive director, describes itself on Facebook as a queer non-profit serving members of all ages in Stanislaus County.
The organization’s website is currently unavailable.
“Mr. Slayton’s actions do not represent our organization’s values or mission,” reads the statement. “In accordance with our unwavering commitment to upholding the highest standards of conduct and integrity, we are addressing the issue with the Rainbow Resource Center.”
The statement expressed a willingness to be transparent about the arrest and hold itself accountable, saying that Mr. Slayton’s arrest needed to be “properly addressed” and that it was “committed to maintaining a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment.”
“We acknowledge the impact that the situation may have had on the community. We understand that trust is earned through consistent and accountable actions. We are dedicated to rebuilding any trust that may have been affected by the situation.”
The sting came after monthslong planning by multiple law enforcement agencies, according to Police Chief Jason Hedden, who expressed pride in Ms. Giovacchini and the team of law enforcement partners “for their efforts to intercept those looking to harm children in our community.”
“Thank you to our partnering agencies who took part in this operation,” said Ms. Giovacchini in a statement. “Without their collaborative efforts, this operation wouldn’t have been nearly as successful as it was. Their assistance helped keep our youth safe. Keeping our children safe from predators will continue to be my number one priority.”
Of the 17 men apprehended, 12 were local residents, while the remaining five came from out-of-county locations, with one man traveling as far as Elverta, about 103 miles north of Turlock.
Mr. Slayton’s replacement at the Rainbow Resource Center, Alex Gutierrez, asserted that the organization “didn’t do anything wrong,” noting that the alleged crimes were Mr. Slayton’s “personal decisions” that happened “off the clock.”
“We’re obviously ready for ... whatever happens, but, you know, this was a personal decision made by one of our employees and it’s unfortunate,” Mr. Gutierrez told the Modesto Bee, which first reported on the sting. ”So, it is, you know, very impactful for us. We are trying to get through it.”
Mr. Gutierrez said his predecessor was “new in that position” and he couldn’t speak to what contact Mr. Slayton had with the organization’s clients.
