Four Internet Predators Caught in Eastern PA
My favorite type of posts/stories. This goes out to all the skeptics out there that think there aren’t really any bad guys trolling the net for kids…
I’ve pasted the article from the local Morning Call below, but in addition, you should check out the video story (live footage of the dirtbags!) at WFMZ-TV’s website: Internet Sex Sting Leads to 4 Arrests. While you’re there, check out a second video piece entitled, How Parents are Protecting Their Kids.
As you watch/read, remember that these guys do exist. These arrests are not fake. This should serve as a reminder to parents to be watchful of what your child is doing online and know whom they are talking to. Make sure you know everyone they are chatting with and emailing… know their friends on their social network pages. You wouldn’t let your child call a complete stranger on the phone, or accept phone calls from one, would you? Why let them do it on the Internet…?
Four Lehigh Valley men have been charged with having sexually explicit images of children or propositioning state investigators posing as young girls on the Internet, officials announced Thursday.
The men used such screen names as “DirtyOlderMan” and chat rooms frequented by teens and pre-teens to trade graphic videos or ask for sex, according to court papers from the Pennsylvania attorney general’s office.
They were arraigned this week in area courts as part of an ongoing state effort to ferret out online sex predators.
The cases are apparently unconnected, officials said, although they’re coming at a time when investigators are bracing for more children to be targeted online.
Nils Hagen-Frederiksen, a spokesman for Attorney General Tom Corbett, said officials expect an upswing in such cases during summer.
“More kids are home, they’re home during the day, they’re home unsupervised,” he said. “We’re really trying to get the message out to parents and kids that now is the time to be thinking extra-hard about online.”
According to a news release from investigators:
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William J. Easterday, 53, of 1424 Derhammer St., Forks Township, is accused of using the screen name “DirtyOlderMan” in a chat room for teens to send a series of explicit photos to an undercover agent posing as a 14-year-old girl. He was arraigned Wednesday on five counts of unlawful contact with a minor, four counts of sexual abuse of children and one count of criminal use of a computer and taken to Northampton County Prison under $75,000 bail.
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Michael D. Gates, 40, of 4594 Homestead Drive, North Whitehall Township, is accused of using a chat room to contact an agent posing as a 14-year-old girl, sending her a “nude video” within minutes, and asking to have sex. He was arraigned Thursday on one count of unlawful contact with a minor and one count of criminal use of a computer and taken to Lehigh County Prison under $100,000 bail.
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Charles J. Lamberton, 20, of 5159 Nor-Bath Blvd., East Allen Township, is accused of using a chat room to contact an agent posing as a 12-year-old girl, asking if she liked “older guys” and sending an explicit video. He was arraigned Thursday on two counts of unlawful contact with a minor and one count of criminal use of a computer and taken to Northampton County Prison under $25,000 bail.
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John W. Sell, 46, of 2280 S. Ellsworth St., Salisbury Township, is accused of having several pornographic images of what are believed to be children on his computer. In February, Sell was charged with sending graphic videos to an investigator posing as a 14-year-old girl. The new charges were filed after agents analyzed his computer. He was arraigned Wednesday on 11 counts of sexual abuse of children and released under $25,000 unsecured bail.
According to authorities, the men are charged with third-degree felonies. Each count carries a potential sentence of up to seven years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000.
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