Wacky Internet Predator Wednesday, episode 4
You know what day it is kids! It’s time for another round-up of those sicko perverts trying to lure teens over the net for sex in… Wacky Internet Predator Wednesday. Today’s round-up includes three homies from Harrisburg PA, a joint effort to round-up the pervs in Missouri and Oklahoma, and finally, a whopping 39 arrests in Michigan!!
They are long, but they are all worth reading for kicks and to serve as reminders hat these scumbags are honestly and truly out there. These are not made up. Thankfully no kids were really involved, but remember, these sickos want to talk to and have sex with your kids!
Parents, please. Use your head; for less than $50 you can have peace of mind. Monitoring computer activity is essential in this day and age. PC Pandora monitoring software can take the guesswork out of it and make it easer for you to be a better and more effective parent. Monitoring doesn’t mean you have to be controlling – on the contrary, it’ll give you the peace of mind you need to give your kids more freedom!
PC Pandora monitoring software – check us out. Here are the Internet predators…
May 28, 2008
Internet stings nab more suspected child-sex predators
By Jeff Lehr
A stepped-up effort in sting operations by area law-enforcement agencies targeting potential child-sex predators on the Internet has produced charges against more suspects in Missouri and Oklahoma.
The Ottawa County (Okla.) Sheriff’s Department announced the arrest Wednesday of a Miami, Okla., man on a child-pornography charge as well as the arrest over the weekend of a 62-year-old man who allegedly traveled 175 miles from Blackwell, Okla., expecting to have sex with a child younger than 16.
The Jasper County Sheriff’s Department reeled in a Columbia man last week on felony charges of sexual misconduct and enticement of a child, the first case to emerge from that agency’s assignment of a detective full time to Internet sex crimes.
And the Newton County prosecutor filed additional charges Wednesday against an Illinois man who had been charged in April with a similar crime in Jasper County.
“This is the first stand-alone (case) that we’ve done,” Cpl. Craig Davis of the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department said Wednesday of the arrest of the man from Columbia.
John S. Green, 25, was taken into custody Friday night after allegedly showing up to meet who he thought was a 13-year-old girl at the Super 8 Motel in Carthage. Sheriff’s Detective Ed Bailey had been having Internet chats with Green for a month under the guise of an underage girl, according to a probable-cause affidavit filed in Jasper County Circuit Court.
Green is charged with two counts of sexual misconduct with a child and one count of enticement of a child. The probable-cause affidavit states that Green initiated Internet chat conversations with Bailey’s chat-room persona on 14 occasions between April 22 and May 23.
The affidavit states that Green exposed himself to the presumed teen and masturbated via a webcam on April 24, May 12 and May 21, and that he sent a photo of his penis to Bailey on May 6. He also allegedly offered to instruct “the girl” sexually, arranged a meeting at the motel, and promised to bring his webcam to record them having sex.
A search of Green’s motel room and vehicle led to the seizure of a laptop computer, two webcams, eight condoms and a cell phone, according to the affidavit. Davis said the computer was sent to a forensic lab in Kansas City for a review of its hard drive.
“We’ll be looking at what’s on it, who he’s been talking to and whether there are any more victims out there,” Davis said.
Bailey had been working on such cases for several months in his spare time, Davis said, and just began working full time in that capacity about four weeks ago.
“He’s got several open investigations,” Davis said. “We expect several of them to be charged soon.”
Bailey had some experience working on computer crimes with the Henry County Sheriff’s Department before being hired by the Jasper County department, Davis said. He also has been working recently with Jim Murray, the former Diamond police chief who has brought several Internet sting cases to the Newton County prosecutor’s office in recent years as a reserve officer with the Diamond Police Department.
Area arrests
Bailey and Murray both reportedly made Internet contact with Kelly J. Williams, 23, of Stonington, Ill., in recent months, leading to a single count of felony sexual misconduct with a child filed April 21 by the Jasper County prosecutor and similar charges filed Wednesday by the Newton County prosecutor’s office.
Jake Skouby, Newton County prosecutor, said Williams was charged Wednesday with sexual misconduct with a minor and enticement of a child based on evidence gathered by Murray. Murray told the Globe that Williams allegedly committed those offenses after being charged in Jasper County based on evidence Bailey had gathered.
A probable-cause affidavit in the Newton County case states that Williams contacted Murray, who was posing as a 13-year-old girl named “Cindy,” on Yahoo Instant Messenger on May 6 and again May 7, and invited “Cindy” to view him masturbating via a webcam. He also sent her pornographic images, the affidavit states.
Ottawa County deputies arrested Michael D. Daly, of Blackwell, Okla., on Saturday after he allegedly traveled to Miami to meet someone he believed to be younger than 16, Undersheriff Bob Ernst said.
Ernst said he began Internet chatting with Daly about a month ago under the guise of a minor. Ernst said he had 10 separate chats with Daly that became sexually explicit and culminated in plans for Daly to travel to Miami to meet with the child at a convenience store.
When he was arrested Saturday, Daly allegedly had hydrocodone, Valium and Viagra pills in his possession, and a blanket and a bowie-type knife in his car.
“He’d discussed in chats that he’d bring a blanket so we could get out of his vehicle after driving around and engage in sexual activities,” Ernst said.
Daly was charged with making lewd or indecent proposals to a child younger than 16, a violation of the Oklahoma Computer Crimes Act and illegal possession of drugs. He appeared in court Tuesday and remained in custody Wednesday at the Ottawa County Jail, with bond set at $100,000.
Lloyd “Dean” Carder, 53, was arrested Wednesday afternoon at his Miami home when officers serving a search warrant allegedly turned up child pornography on several of his computers, compact discs and digital video discs.
The search warrant was based on information developed by Ernst and another Ottawa County sheriff’s officer assigned to the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Carder was charged with possession of child pornography, and posted a $100,000 bond and was released.
Legal issues
Internet stings of suspected child-sex predators remain a controversial aspect of law enforcement nationwide.
Darren Wallace, district defender for the Missouri State Public Defender System, said the Missouri Legislature designed state laws to avoid defense claims of entrapment. But the cases still raise criminal-justice questions because they usually involve an adult law-enforcement officer masquerading as a minor, he said.
“The publicity these types of cases receive from the national media makes it difficult to prepare a defense,” Wallace said.
He said it remains a legitimate question if law-enforcement agencies that conduct such stings are “creating criminal situations that might not otherwise have ever happened.”
There seem to be significantly more court cases in Southwest Missouri of defendants who allegedly committed crimes via the Internet with law-enforcement officers posing as children than there are cases in which defendants allegedly committed crimes with minors to whom they gained access through the Internet, Wallace said. He said there may be several reasons for that, including education of the public regarding Internet dangers.
“Maybe parents and families have come a long way toward protecting their own children,” Wallace said.
Skouby, the Newton County prosecutor, said just because there are fewer cases involving access gained to children over the Internet does not mean such crimes are not happening.
“We only hear of cases when victims report it,” he said. “If a 13-year-old is out there making contact with adults on the Internet, we may not hear about it until that child is old enough to realize that it is not appropriate.”
Murray, the Diamond officer, said he has been involved in at least four Internet sting cases in which defendants had actual sexual contact with underage victims.
“These guys are out there,” he said. “The idea that we’re creating them is way beyond my way of thinking.”
May 29, 2008
Suspects arrested in child sex sting
By Andrea King, Staff Writer
More than three-dozen suspects were arrested in Van Buren Township recently as a result of phase two of an Internet child predator sting by township police and Wayne County sheriffs.
The operation ended with 38 arrests from Michigan and one from New Jersey. The men ranged from 19 to 57. Phase one was a three-day sting in March at a staged house in the township, while phase two targeted individuals who chatted online with volunteers posing as minors, but didn’t travel to the decoy location, according to officials.
“This Internet predator sting was unique. Most focus only on those predators that traveled, but not with this project. If you solicit a child for sex or send sexually graphic material to a youngster, you don’t escape prosecution just because you never got off your couch,” said Attorney General Mike Cox. “Identifying this type of Internet predator can be difficult, but the extra effort is worth it to protect children from those who seek to harm them by using the Internet.”
Police said more than nine special agents from the attorney general’s office worked to identify and arrest the suspects.
Typically, law enforcement only arrests those individuals who actually travel to a place, but this is the first to identify, arrest and charge individuals who used the Internet to arrange sex with a minor, but didn’t arrive for the meeting with the child.
“The first 27 suspects were the ones who showed up at the house, then several others sent things over the web, but never showed up,” said Jerry Champagne, director of the public safety department for Van Buren Township. “One guy didn’t even show up in March because two days prior to our sting he was arrested in Macomb County for the same thing.
“Another guy actually contacted a girl and convinced her to go to Europe with him, but he was arrested because the girl’s mom saw it on the computer,” Champagne added.
The 11 individuals have been charged with using the Internet to solicit sex from a minor, as well as disseminating sexually explicit material to a minor. A criminal charge is merely an accusation and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty, officials said.
“This two-phase operation has been an unqualified success and taken countless children out of harm’s way,” said Sheriff Warren Evans. “The arrests made during phase two are equally as important as those made at the sting house because each suspect’s ultimate goal has been the same: sexual gratification through the exploitation of children.”
Since the start, the Cox’s Child and Public Protection Unit has arrested 195 Internet sexual predators, they said. For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/ag for tips on safe Internet usage for children. Citizens can also report suspected Internet child predators at (313) 456-0180.
May 28, 2008
Local man charged in Internet sex sting
Written by The Indiana Gazette
HARRISBURG — A Cherry Tree man is one of two suspects accused by the state attorney general’s office of using the Internet to sexually proposition what they believed were young girls, or sending explicit and nude photos to girls. The girls were actually undercover agents from the Child Predator Unit, law enforcement officials said.
Attorney General Tom Corbett identified the defendants as Peter Abromovich, 44, of 416 Lion Road, Cherry Tree, and Steve Kempski, 35, of Brookville.
Corbett said Abromovich and Kempski are both accused of using Internet chat rooms to sexually proposition what they believed were 13-year-old girls. Abromovich is also accused of sending a number of nude photos or sexually graphic videos to an undercover agent who was using the online profile of a child.
The Child Predator Unit has arrested 145 Internet predators since it was created in January 2005, according to Corbett.
Corbett said Abromovich initially contacted an undercover agent from the Child Predator Unit on March 3, asking the “girl” if he could exchange photos and webcam videos with her.
According to the criminal complaint, Abromovich approached the girl again the following day, asking for “sexy” pictures of the girl and sending her a link to his webcam. During that webcam transmission, Abromovich allegedly walked in front of his computer wearing only his underwear, asking her, “Have you seen anybody in their underwear before,” and “have you seen anybody nude?”
Corbett said Abromovich asked the girl to keep their messages confidential and instructed her how to delete the transcripts of their online chats. He also allegedly sent her a nude webcam transmission, urging her not to tell anyone about their conversations because they would “both be in big trouble.”
According to the criminal charges, Abromovich sent a total of eight sexually explicit videos or photos to the girl.
Abromovich was arrested at his home May 9 by agents of the attorney general’s Child Predator Unit, assisted by state police.
Abromovich is charged with eight counts each of unlawful contact with a minor, criminal attempted unlawful contact with a minor and criminal use of a computer. Each of those charges is a third-degree felony punishable by up to seven years in prison and a $15,000 fine.
Bail for Abromovich was set at $70,000 and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 23.
Corbett said that, similarly, Kempski, the second defendant, of Brookville, used an instant message chat room to contact an undercover agent posing as a 13-year-old girl, and asked a series of detailed questions about her sexual activity and allegedly asked the girl to meet him for sex.
It’s expected that Abromovich will be prosecuted in Cambria County, where his residence is physically located, and Kempski will be prosecuted in Jefferson County, both by Deputy Attorney General William Caye II of the Child Predator Unit.
Earlier this month, Corbett was joined by representatives from several education organizations in launching “Operation Summer Surf,” to remind parents and teens to regularly discuss online safety and remain vigilant this summer.
June 4th, 2008
AG Announces Child Predator Arrest in Allegheny County
Gantdaily.com
HARRISBURG – Attorney General Tom Corbett announced that agents from the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit have arrested an Allegheny County man accused of sending nude photographs and child pornography to what he believed was a 13-year old girl. The “girl” was actually an undercover agent from the Child Predator Unit who was using the online profile of a child.
Corbett identified the defendant as Paul Hagelthorn, 53 of Natrona Heights.
Corbett said that Hagelthorn allegedly used an Internet chat room to approach an undercover agent on April 1, 2008, telling the undercover agent, “I like young pretty girls,” and asking her if she was interested in meeting an older man. Several minutes later, Hagelthorn allegedly sent the girl five digital photographs of a man’s penis and also instructed her to masturbate.
“It is essential for parents and teens to understand how quickly online conversations can progress from initial contact to sexually explicit content,” Corbett said. “As demonstrated by this case, predators will often begin sexually graphic discussions within minutes of contacting a child, and many suspects send nude photos during their first online meeting.”
Corbett said that Hagelthorn allegedly continued to contact the girl online, repeatedly expressing his desire to meet her for sex. In addition, Hagelthorn asked for nude photos of the girl and also sent her several items of suspected illegal child pornography – specifically, photographs that appeared to show children engaging in sexual activity with adults.
According to the criminal complaint, Hagelthorn asked the girl if she had any female friends who would be interested in participating in sexual activity. He also allegedly instructed the girl to delete the nude photos he had sent her during earlier chats.
During the course of his online chats, Hagelthorn allegedly sent the girl nude photographs or sexually propositioned her on seven different occasions. Additionally, Hagelthorn is accused of transmitting 25 images of suspected illegal child pornography.
Hagelthorn was arrested at his home on Monday, June 2nd, by agents from the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit, assisted by Harrison Township Police. Following the arrest, agents executed a search warrant at Hagelthorn’s home, seizing four computers, several digital cameras and numerous data storage disks. Those items will be analyzed by the Attorney General’s Computer Forensics Unit as part of an ongoing investigation.
Hagelthorn is charged with seven counts of unlawful contact with a minor (obscene or sexual materials or performances), seven counts of criminal use of a computer and 25 counts of sexual abuse of children (dissemination or possession of child pornography). All of those charges are third degree felonies which are each punishable by up to seven years in prison and a $15,000 fine.
Hagelthorn was preliminarily arraigned before Natrona Magisterial District Judge Carolyn Bengel and lodged in the Allegheny County Jail in lieu of $50,000 cash bail. He was also ordered to undergo a behavioral clinic analysis and prohibited from using the Internet or having any unsupervised contact with minors. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 11th, at 1 p.m., before Magisterial District Judge Bengel.
Summer Danger – “Operation Summer Surf”
Corbett said that the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit has arrested 146 Internet predators since it was created in January 2005, including 30 arrests since the beginning of this year.
In May 2008, Corbett was joined by representatives from the Pennsylvania Parent Teacher Association, the Pennsylvania State Education Association, the Pennsylvania School Boards Association and the Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals, to launch “Operation Summer Surf” – reminding parents and teens across Pennsylvania to regularly discuss online safety and remain vigilant this summer.
Corbett said that there was a notable increase in the number of Internet predators arrested by the Attorney General’s Office last summer – a total of 17 arrests between Memorial Day and Labor Day 2007, including men who traveled from as far away as Kentucky in order to have sexual contact with children. Corbett said the number of arrests in the summer of 2007 was nearly double the number of arrests from the previous summer.
Corbett added that undercover agents have reported an increase in the number of Internet predators questioning children about their summer vacation plans, or asking them about times where they may be home alone, as part of discussions about meeting the children or sending them sexually graphic videos.
Operation Summer Surf is an expansion of the Attorney General’s popular “Operation Safe Surf” Internet safety education program, which was created in October 2006 and has now reached nearly 140,000 children and adults from across the state.
Corbett said that today’s teens have grown up with the Internet and have never known a world without it, making “surfing” a part of their life that they often take for granted. Operation Summer Surf emphasizes that the same rules of Internet safety apply not just to September through June, but throughout the summer months as well.
“Predators will always be drawn to locations that give them the greatest access to the largest number of potential victims,” Corbett said. “Today, they stalk a variety of online sites, including chat rooms; social networking websites like MySpace and Facebook; Internet message boards; video game sites; and even online classified ads on Craigslist.com.”
Corbett noted that the techniques used by Internet predators change rapidly, spurred by developments in communication technology and changes in where and how children communicate online. He added that predators will communicate with children in many different ways, using public or private online chat rooms, instant message programs, text messages, email, cell phones and webcams.
“It is essential for parents to understand how quickly online conversations can progress from initial contact to sexually explicit content,” Corbett said. “Often, predators will begin a sexually graphic discussion within minutes of contacting a child, and many suspects transmit nude photos or explicit videos during their first online meeting.”
Corbett encouraged parents to discuss Internet safety with their children, including the danger of meeting strangers who approach them online. He also advised that parents ask their children to show them what they are doing online, setting ground rules for summer online communication to help kids use the Internet safely and in a responsible manner.
