The Cincinnati Enquirer

Ketron

COLERAIN TWP. - Two men, one of them a city councilman in Independence, Ky., face felony charges after police say they either arranged or tried to arrange to have sex with what they thought were teen girls they met in Internet chat rooms.

Otis Ketron, 47, of Independence is charged with one count of attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and five counts of importuning, all felonies.

In November, Ketron was one of six people elected to Independence City Council. He had the fourth-highest vote total.

He was arrested about 10:45 a.m. Friday after detectives with the Regional Electronic and Computer Investigations Unit said he discussed engaging in specific sexual conduct, and attempted to arrange sexual encounters with an undercover detective posing as a 15-year-old girl, police said.

Ketron was arrested in Winton Terrace after a four-month investigation.

In a separate investigation, Michael France, 34, of Lebanon was charged with one count of attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and two counts of importuning, all felonies. He was arrested about 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the vicinity of Kemper Road and Hamilton Avenue while attempting to meet for sex.

The arrest culminated a month-long investigation. Police said France used Internet chat rooms to discuss engaging in sexual conduct with an undercover detective posing as a 15-year-old girl.