GIRARD – Nine out of 14 men arrested during this week’s human-trafficking operation, targeting individuals seeking to buy sex via the internet, have entered not guilty pleas in court this morning.

One of the men, Brian O’Nora, 57, of Youngstown, reportedly is a Major League Baseball umpire.

The sex sting occurred Sunday in Liberty Township.

Five more men had not yet been arraigned as of 11 a.m., when the court took a recess.

Appearing in Girard Municipal Court this morning and pleading not guilty to misdemeanor charges of soliciting and possessing criminal tools were:

• Willie Daniels Jr., 37, Youngstown;

• Saad Elamin, 43, Campbell;

• Omar Farooq, 37, Hermitage, Pa.;

• Thomas Hendricks, 66, Salem;

• Ryan Kirkpatrick, 26, residence unknown;

• David Shaffer, 46, Mineral Ridge.

Also, pleading not guilty through their attorneys but not appearing in court were:

• Matthew Lennington, 28, Cortland;

• Nick Mymo, 37, Niles; and

• Brian O’Nora, 57, Youngstown.

National media report identified O’Nora as a MLB umpire.

Not yet arraigned are:

• Harry Krause, 63, Youngstown;

• James Lohmier, 38, Boardman;

• William Shaw Sr., 58, Moyock, N.C.;

• Brian Van Divner, 54, New Franklin; and

• Johnny Young, 55, Youngstown.

It’s unclear if these five were still set for arraignment or were no-shows for their court dates.

Liberty police had assistance Sunday from the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force, the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force, Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office, Austintown Police Department, Youngstown Police Department, the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Ohio Adult Parole Authority.

“John stings deter those seeking to purchase sex — reducing the demand for human trafficking — and serve as a reminder that these crimes are more prevalent and closer to home than you may think,” Attorney General Dave Yost said. He called the sting a “successful operation.”

For more on this story, read Wednesday’s editions.