Aurora police arrest retired airline pilot in child predator sting

AURORA, Colorado — Aurora police have arrested two men as part of a multi-agency online child predator operation, one of them a retired airline pilot suspected of having victims across the country. 

The Aurora Police Department said in a release Thursday that Florissant resident Ralph Edward Bledsoe, 68, was arrested Tuesday after arriving at an Aurora hotel for what he thought was a planned meeting to have sex with a minor. He was jailed on charges of internet luring of a child, internet sexual exploitation of a child and attempted sex assault of a child. 

Police said Bledsoe does not have a prior criminal history, but detectives learned he may have had sexual relationships with minors in the past in Denver, Phoenix and Pennsylvania. He is a retired airline pilot and investigators learned he flew to Colorado from Canada for the meeting, police said. Investigators also recovered several gifts Bledsoe sent ahead of the meeting, including lingerie and sex toys, police said. 

“Bledsoe being an airline pilot and the possibility of previous sexual relationships with underaged victims raises significant concerns about the potential of there being victims throughout the country,” said Seth Robertson, lieutenant of the Aurora Police Department Special Victims Section, in a statement. “His arrest does not mean this investigation is over. Our detectives are working diligently with local, state and federal partners throughout the country to try to identify additional victims and to ensure they receive the justice they deserve.”  

Investigators want to speak with anyone who might have information about Bledsoe’s travels, illegal activity or who might have information about possible sexual assault victims in other cities, police said. Anyone with information is asked to call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867. Tipsters can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.

The operation also resulted in the arrest of 39-year-old Aurora resident Gregory Thomas Daniels. He was arrested on April 2 after going to a location in Aurora for what he thought was a planned meeting to have sex with a minor, police said. He was booked into jail on charges of internet luring of a child and attempted sex assault of a child. 

The joint operation involved Aurora Police, Longmont Police, Homeland Security Investigations, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, the Boulder County Computer Forensics Lab and the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office.

“As a police officer and father, I am appalled by these disgusting crimes that target children within our community,” said Mark Hildebrand, chief of the Aurora Police Department Investigations Division, in a statement. “It is the truest representation of evil. It is impressive to see so many law enforcement agencies come together for such an important cause to protect our youngest and most vulnerable. I am very proud of our ICAC Unit’s contribution and hard work in this endeavor.”