A Nicholasville man was among nine other individuals to be arrested and charged with more than 400 felony counts of possessing child pornography or soliciting a minor.

Daniel Rike, 34, of Nicholasville, was charged with 100 counts of possession of a matter portraying sexual performance by a minor, a Class D felony and one count of distribution of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor, a Class D felony, according to a press release from the Office of the Attorney General. 

Over the last several weeks, at the request of local law enforcement, General Attorney Andy Beshear’s Cyber Crimes Unit expanded it’s online child protection and law enforcement efforts in Allen, Boone, Franklin, Garrard, Hardin, Jessamine, Kenton, Scott and Shelby counties, according to the press release.

Cybercrime officials from the Attorney General’s Office investigated individuals who possessed and distributed child pornography, as well as those who solicited minors for sex online. 

The 10-day operation called “Operation Shielded Child” included the cyber-crime investigators, Kentucky State Police, Homeland Security Investigations and police departments in Georgetown, Frankfort, Lancaster, Nicholasville and Shelbyville.

One case from the investigation is still pending.

“I would like to thank my team, KSP, the federal office of Homeland Security Investigations and the many local police departments for helping to make Operation Shielded Child a success,” Beshear said in the release. “It’s a core mission of my office to ensure our communities are safe, and we will continue to work vigorously with local law enforcement to stop online sexual predators from victimizing our children.”

Beshear’s Cyber Crimes Unit has arrested or convicted 42 sexual predators since Beshear took office in January, according to the press release.

Anyone who wishes to report instances of cyber crimes can contact Beshear’s office by phone at 866-524-3672, or email DCIForce@ ky.gov. Information may be shared anonymously.