UPDATE: Gaithersburg Resident Among 11 Nabbed In Online Sex Sting

One Gaithersburg resident and a New Jersey congressman's chief of staff were among 11 arrested last week in the city police department's first online sex sting, police said.

Officer Dan Lane, a police spokesman, said the men were all charged with soliciting sex from a minor, a felony offense that carries a penalty of not more than 10 years in prison or a fine not exceeding $25,000, or both.

Kyu Hwan Yeo, 28, of the 100 block of Canfield Hill Drive in Gaithersburg, was arrested on November 18 and charged with one count of sexual solicitation of a minor.  He was released after posting a $10,000 bond.

Among the 11 was also Robert Decheine, who was Rep. Steve Rothman's chief of staff. Rothman represents New Jersey's District 9, which includes Bergen, Hudson and Passaic counties.

Rothman's office issued this statement:

"On Friday, November 19, 2010, at 3:30 pm, the House of Representatives Sergeant at Arms contacted Congressman Steve Rothman personally and informed him that the Gaithersburg Police Department had arrested Mr. Robert Decheine, who was then serving as his Chief of Staff, on a charge of sexual solicitation of a minor. Congressman Rothman immediately consulted appropriate House Counsel and terminated Mr. Decheine's employment, effective November 19, 2010, due to the very serious nature of this charge. Congressman Rothman considers this alleged criminal act to be shocking, appalling and indefensible."

Lane did not have information on the names and addresses of the men charged, but said he would have more information later tonight.

A city police officer suggested carrying out the sting after he completed a stint with the Montgomery County Police, Lane said.

It involved setting up a phony ad on a website, with a police officer, posing as a minor, soliciting sex from adults for a fee, he added.

Times for meeting and payment rates were established, Lane said, and undercover officers arrested the suspects when they showed up at the designated location.

Gaithersburg Mayor Sidney Katz said he was proud of the efforts of the Police force.

"I'm very pleased that our police were proactive in this. They obviously did a good job," he said.

He also recognized that the high-profile arrest would put a spotlight on the Gaithersburg department.

"This could be high profile because of the person who was arrested," referring to Decheine. "But we have a very fine police chief and department."

Gaithersburg Chief Mark P. Sroka took office less than a year ago after serving several months as interim chief when he was a major in the Maryland State Police.

The following is a list of the 10 men, other than Yeo, who were arrested.

Scott D. Selfridge, 37, of the 1100 block of Nestle Quarry Road in Falling Waters, W.Va., was arrested on Nov. 15 and charged with one count of sexual solicitation of a minor.  He was released after posting a $25,000 bond.

James W. Torrence, 61, of the 900 block of Bergan Street in Bel Air, was arrested on Nov. 15 and charged with one count of sexual solicitation of a minor.  He was released after posting a $25,000 bond.

Frederick John Geidel, 43, of the 18600 block of Broken Oak Road in Boyds was arrested on Nov. 16 and charged with one count of sexual solicitation of a minor.  He was released after posting a $25,000 bond.

Anderson Min Yao, 35, of the 13200 block of Catawba Manor Way in Clarksburg, was arrested on Nov. 16 and charged with one count of sexual solicitation of a minor.  He was released after posting a $25,000 bond.

Neerji Tewari, 47, of the 11300 block of Berger Terrace in Potomac, was arrested on Nov. 16 and charged with one count of sexual solicitation of a minor.  He was released after posting a $75,000 bond.

Anthony Douglas Hammonds, 36, of the 11900 block of Coverstone Hill Circle in Manassas, Va., was arrested on Nov. 17 and charged with one count of sexual solicitation of a minor.  He was released after posting a $10,000 bond.

Robert Bruce Decheine, 48, of the 500 block of 12th Street NE Washington, D.C., was arrested on Nov. 18 and charged with one count of sexual solicitation of a minor.  He was released after posting a $15,000 bond.

Michael San Augustin Carpio, 32, of the 8000 block of Carlean Court in Pasadena, was arrested on Nov. 18 and charged with one count of sexual solicitation of a minor.  He was released after posting a $10,000 bond.

David Scott Pfarr, 51, of the 15000 block of Water Oak Drive in Darnestown, was arrested on Nov. 19 and charged with one count of sexual solicitation of a minor.  He was released after posting a $10,000 bond.

William D. Martinez, 25, of the 7700 block of Emerson Road in Hyattsville, was arrested on Nov. 19 and charged with one count of sexual solicitation of a minor.  He was released after posting a $10,000 bond.