by Rafael Pena
November 24, 2023
An undercover human trafficking operation has resulted in the arrest of 26 individuals, among them Stephen Hovanic.
An undercover human trafficking operation conducted by the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office on Nov. 16 has resulted in the arrest of 26 individuals, among them Stephen Hovanic, a prominent figure identified as the chief of staff for Defense Department schools in the United States, according to FOX 5 Atlanta. The operation, spanning two days, aimed to combat human trafficking, but it uncovered a web of illicit activities that shocked the community.
At 64 years old, Hovanic, a resident of Sharpsburg, now faces charges of pandering, a misdemeanor in Georgia. The military publication Stars and Stripes shed light on Hovanic’s role as a key official overseeing children’s education within the Pentagon’s Defense Department schools.
The arrest unfolded during an undercover operation in which Hovanic allegedly solicited sex from an undercover officer in a motel room specifically arranged for the operation. Coweta County Sheriff’s Office revealed that the charges against the 26 individuals spanned offenses such as pandering, prostitution, and pimping.
The human trafficking sting not only resulted in arrests but also aimed to provide assistance to victims of trafficking. According to deputies, six women were identified as victims of human trafficking and were offered help to escape their dire circumstances.
In a statement to The Newnan Times-Herald by Sgt. Toby Nix of the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office, Nix states, “The victims were taken to an undisclosed ‘safe house,’ where they will receive the help they need to move forward from the heinous crime of human trafficking. All females contacted in this operation were offered the same assistance, with some refusing any aid. Pandering is not a victimless crime, as the demand for prostitution drives the sex trafficking market.”
Hovanic, however, maintains his innocence, asserting that he believed he was procuring a massage, not engaging in illegal sexual activities with the woman who, unbeknownst to him, was an undercover officer. His defense highlights a potential misunderstanding, and the case raises questions about the nature of the encounter.
Sheriff’s deputies emphasized that the human trafficking investigation remains ongoing, hinting at the possibility of additional arrests and charges. The operation underscores the pervasive issue of human trafficking, even in seemingly unsuspecting communities, and the arrests send a powerful message about law enforcement’s commitment to combating such heinous crimes.
