Cape County man accused of exploitation in Internet sting

A Cape Girardeau County man caught in an Internet sting operation initiated in Colorado faces charges of Internet exploitation of a child and growing marijuana.

Jerry L. Gilles, 59, of 3507 Old Route V, was arrested Friday when deputies from the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department served a search warrant looking for computers and related media, Sheriff John Jordan said in a news release.

The deputies were acting in response to an undercover operation initiated in Adams County, Colo. An officer there posed as a 13-year-old boy and charges from Colorado accuse him of exposing himself and masturbating on a Web camera during a chat conversation, Jordan said.

Deputies discovered five marijuana plants about 6 feet tall and small marijuana plants in the residence, Jordan said. Gilles is being held on $5,000 bond on the Colorado charge and a $35,000 bond for attempted production of marijuana.