New Iberia Minister, Scott Man Arrested In Louisiana Child Predator Sting

A New Iberia minister and a 24-year-old man from Scott are among 10 suspects arrested during a multi-day undercover operation targeting alleged child predators in Louisiana.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill and Assumption Parish Sheriff Leland Falcon announced the results of "Operation Bottom Dweller," which was conducted from August 26 through August 28 in Assumption Parish.

According to the Louisiana Attorney General's Office, the operation targeted people allegedly using electronic communications or internet-based platforms to solicit, entice or attempt to exploit people they believed were juveniles for sexual purposes. The operation resulted in arrests involving suspects from Louisiana and several other states.

For Acadiana, two names on the arrest list stand out: 35-year-old Malcolm Barnes III of New Iberia and 24-year-old Shelton Smith of Scott.

New Iberia Minister Was Already Out On Bond

According to the Attorney General's Office, Barnes is a minister from New Iberia who was already out on a $150,000 bond through the 16th Judicial District Court in St. Mary Parish when he was arrested in the latest operation.

Those prior charges are also for indecent behavior with a juvenile and computer-aided solicitation of a minor.

The Daily Iberian reports Barnes was previously arrested by the Baldwin Police Department on October 7, 2024. That case reportedly stemmed from an investigation that began in June 2024.

Barnes now faces new charges of indecent behavior and computer-aided solicitation of a minor stemming from Operation Bottom Dweller.

Scott Man Also Arrested In Undercover Operation

Shelton Smith, 24, of Scott was also identified by state officials as one of the 10 suspects arrested.

According to the Attorney General's Office, Smith faces charges of indecent behavior and computer-aided solicitation of a minor.

Authorities have not released additional details about the circumstances surrounding Smith's arrest beyond the charges and his inclusion in the undercover operation.

What Was Operation Bottom Dweller?

Operation Bottom Dweller was conducted in Assumption Parish and involved multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Assumption Parish Sheriff's Office, Louisiana Attorney General's Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Berwick Police Department, Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office and Morgan City Police Department.

Authorities said investigators posed as juveniles online in an effort to identify people allegedly attempting to use the internet and electronic communications for sexual purposes involving minors.

Sheriff Falcon said authorities intend to continue aggressively pursuing people who use online platforms to target children.

Attorney General Murrill said the operation was part of the work being conducted through Louisiana's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. According to her office, the task force has expanded from eight law enforcement members to 80 and now includes all 64 parish sheriffs along with local, state and federal partners.

The Attorney General's Office says the task force has made more than 1,300 arrests and rescued nearly 200 child victims from ongoing abuse since Murrill took office.

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Who Else Was Arrested?

In addition to Barnes and Smith, officials identified eight other suspects arrested during Operation Bottom Dweller:

• Brian Gilton, 38, of Napoleonville
• Joey Gravois, 52, of Vacherie
• Jack Stutsman, 22, of Haughton
• Delmer Wesley Messer, 24, of Manchester, Kentucky
• John Bang, 60, of Vancleave, Mississippi
• Lesli Joel Calix Sarmiento, 36, of Slidell
• Dustin H. Caldwell, 47, of Cocoa, Florida
• Chaz Michael Fromnethal, 32, of Metairie

Officials said the suspects face charges of indecent behavior and computer-aided solicitation of a minor. Fromnethal was additionally charged with illegal possession of a stolen firearm and was booked as a fugitive, according to authorities.

Authorities also said Sarmiento had previously been removed from the United States and allegedly traveled to Assumption Parish intending to have sex with someone he believed was younger than 16.

All suspects are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.