CATAWBA COUNTY, N.C. — Ten people were arrested and face dozens of felony charges after a three-day operation focused on child sex crimes in Catawba County, according to the Catawba County Sheriff's Office.

The sheriff's office said Operation Catawba Net sends "a clear message that anyone targeting our children will be brought to justice," adding they are making the county safer "one arrest at a time."

The charges are as follows: • Thomas Davonne Ellerbe, 26, of Morrisville, NC: one count of soliciting a child by computer to commit sex act and appear, one count of attempted indecent liberties with a child, and four counts of disseminating obscene picture. • Douglas Peter Hess, 72, of Conover, NC: one count of soliciting a child by computer to commit sex act and appear, one count of a

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