10/01/2026
PORT CLINTON, OH- Beginning on September 24, 2026 and continuing through September 26, 2026, the Ottawa County Prosecutor’s Office—Major Crimes Unit, in partnership with the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office, and the Catawba Island Township Police Department conducted Operation Lifeboat, an extensive undercover investigation targeting individuals engaged in the online solicitation of minors.
Throughout the three-day operation, law enforcement officers posed as children between the ages of 13 and 15 on various online platforms. Suspects who initiated contact and expressed intent to engage in sexual activity traveled to pre-arranged locations believing they were meeting a child. Many of the individuals also offered monetary compensation in exchange for sexual conduct.
Operation Lifeboat was launched as part of an ongoing commitment to combat child exploitation and safeguard children in our communities and across the State. This operation underscores the proactive and collaborative approach law enforcement is taking to address a growing threat in the digital age.
The success of Operation Lifeboat was made possible by the coordinated efforts of multiple local, state, and federal justice system partners. Participating agencies included Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children (Ohio ICAC), Ottawa County Sheriff's Office, Ottawa County Prosecutor's Office/Major Crimes Unit, Catawba Island Township Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, Mission Sciences Inc., Sandusky County Drug Task Force, Fremont Police Department, Sheffield Lake Police Department, Norwalk Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
As a direct result of the 3-day operation, an Ottawa County Grand Jury has indicted the following individuals:
• Gregory Hart, 72, of Catawba Island Township, Ohio was charged with Importuning, Possession of Criminal Tools, and Attempted Illegal Use of a Minor in Nudity-Oriented Material.
• William Haidle, 63, of Port Clinton, Ohio was charged with Importuning, Compelling Prostitution, Possessing Criminal Tools, Attempted Unlawful Sexual Conduct with a Minor, and Tampering with Evidence
• Michael Staffiero, 43, of Amherst, Ohio was charged with Importuning, Attempted Unlawful Sexual Conduct with a Minor, Attempted Illegal Use of a Minor in Nudity-Oriented Material, Attempted Pandering Obscenity Involving a Minor, and Disseminating Matter Harmful to Juveniles.
• Alexander Strautmann, 30, of Westlake, Ohio was charged with Importuning, Attempted Illegal Use of a Minor in Nudity-Oriented Material, Attempted Unlawful Sexual Conduct with a Minor, Compelling Prostitution, Possessing Criminal Tools, and Tampering with Evidence.
• David Carpenter, 61, of Waterford, Michigan was charged with Importuning, Possessing Criminal Tools, and Attempted Unlawful Sexual Conduct with a Minor.
• Chad Mutchler, 56, of Loudonville, Ohio was charged with Importuning, Attempted Unlawful Sexual Conduct with a Minor, and Possessing Criminal Tools.
• Lawrence Will, 70, of South Rockwood, Michigan was charged with Importuning, Attempted Corrupting Another with Drugs, Attempted Unlawful Sexual Conduct with a Minor, Compelling Prostitution, Possessing Criminal Tools, and Attempted Illegal Use of a Minor in Nudity-Oriented Material.
• Timothy Rawson, 53, of Sunbury, Ohio was charged with Importuning, Attempted Unlawful Sexual Conduct with a Minor, and Possessing Criminal Tools.
• Anthony Moreno, 22, of Toledo, Ohio was charged with Importuning, Compelling Prostitution, Possessing Criminal Tools, and Attempted Unlawful Sexual Conduct with a Minor.
• Lakshmi Anbalagan, 42 of Delaware, Ohio was charged with Importuning, Attempted Unlawful Sexual Conduct with a Minor, and Possessing Criminal Tools.
In addition to the 10 individuals who were indicted, the Ottawa County Prosecutors Office-Major Crimes Unit is conducting ongoing investigations into at least seven other individuals which may lead to charges in the future.
Online exploitation of children is a serious and evolving threat. We are committed to aggressively investigating and prosecuting those who seek to harm children in all of our communities.
In 2025, the Ottawa County Prosecutors Office/MCU and Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office ran a 4-day operation, Operation Safe Harbor, which led to the arrest and conviction of 10 individuals for crimes related to online sexual exploitation. All 10 of those individuals were successfully prosecuted and imprisoned as a result of the charges.
Further details may be limited pending ongoing investigations. Additional charges may be filed at the conclusion of the investigation.
It is important to note that an indictment is merely a formal charge filed in the Ottawa County Common Pleas Court and does not denote the guilt or innocence of the accused.
James VanEerten
Ottawa County Prosecutor
