Wacky Internet Predator Wednesday, Part 15
It’s Wednesday, and we’ve got another round-up of the nasty dirtbags preying on kids on the Internet that were – fortunately – swept up in Internet sting operations by local law enforcement…
Parents, another reminder: just because your kid isn’t a victim doesn’t mean there aren’t sickos out there trying to lure your kids and make them a victim. And how do you know your child is safe? Kids do a lot of stuff that parents never find out about. How do you know your child is innocent? Wouldn’t you rather know than guess or assume…?
Our PC Pandora parental control and monitoring software can help. It’ll take snapshots of the screen and show you what your child is doing online, who they are talking to and what sites they are going to. Do you know who your child’s friends are on MySpace? Do you know how many social network profiles they have? Do you know if they are a victim of cyberbullying… or if they are a cyberbully?! With PC Pandora – you WILL KNOW!
Again, this isn’t “spying” like a bunch of morons want you to think it is. It’s is using technology to obtain the necessary information you need to be an effective 21st century parent. Filters and block won’t do the trick – that just leaves you with false assumptions.
Anyway, here is a summary of the dirtbags caught in the past week… the full stories follow:
- 2 men in Wayne County Michigan (Detroit Metro area) were arrested in stings: one thought he was going to get to have sex with a 15-year-old boy; the other was after a 14-year-old girl.
- A 27-year-old Newark (NJ) man is and convicted sex offender was nabbed after engaging in online conversations with what he thought was a 15-year-old girl.
- A 34-year-old Ithaca High School (NY) physical education teacher and former girls volleyball coach is facing felony sex crime charges for using an Internet chat program to make sexual conversation with what he thought was a 13-year-old girl, and sending sexual Webcam images of himself to the person.
- Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett announced the arrest of two more Internet predators in his sate: a 21-year-old man who thought he was sending pics of his schlong to a 14-year-old girl and a 29-year-old guy who also sent pics of his tallywhacker to what he thought was a 13-year-old girl and went a step further to ask her for sex.
Cyber Sting Nets Suspected Predators
(WXYZ) Wayne County Sheriff’s deputies busted suspected internet predators in two separate sting operations.
Investigators say Kevin Hardges of Ypsilanti used the internet to arrange to have sex with what he thought was a teenage boy. When he arrived at the meeting location he was greeted by Wayne County Sheriff’s deputies.
Fifteen minutes after Hardges was busted, deputies also arrested Donald Carns of Allen Park. He showed up to have sex with what he thought was a 14-year-old girl.
Both suspected predators had no idea they had been chatting online with undercover investigators.
NEWARK — It was a scene — a suspect being handcuffed behind a Hebron Road business Thursday — that has become a regular occurrence, and the Licking County Sheriff’s Office aims to keep it that way.
The 27-year-old man is accused of engaging in online conversations with what he thought was a 15-year-old girl — but the “she” on the other end of the Internet connection actually was a detective.
The sheriff’s office has embraced Internet stings as way to peel back the anonymity of sexual predators and put them into jail cells.
“This is the only proactive thing I know that we can do that protects our children in the community,” Capt. Dave Starling said at the scene of the arrest.
In this particular case, which Starling called “textbook,” the suspect, a convicted Tier II sexual offender, allegedly started a conversation with a detective, who was posing as a teenage girl, in an Internet chat room Wednesday.
Using training from partnering national organization Internet Crimes Against Children, Starling, head of the detective bureau, said his personnel are careful not to entrap the potential offender.
“The biggest thing is that they initiate the contact, the dialogue, the ‘Hey, I’d like to meet you,’” he said.
Once a meeting place and time are set, detectives, who are in constant communication, position themselves in the area and watch for the suspect’s vehicle, Starling said.
Using the Internet connection on his cell phone, the suspect unwittingly updated the detectives as to how far away he was and that he would be arriving out front of the business in a copper Chevy Cavalier.
About 30 minutes late, he showed up behind the business in a copper Pontiac Sunfire.
Starling said this might have been an attempt to throw off any law enforcement personnel.
Despite offenders using increasing caution, the program, which began in 2004, has helped the sheriff’s office make 30 arrests, Starling said. The percentage of suspects, all male so far, who show up is well above 90 percent.
Unlike Dateline NBC’s “To Catch a Predator” series, the sheriff’s office does not employ anyone outside of their detectives to conduct the stings, he said.
The accused in this case is a Logan man who made a 40-mile drive to Heath, which Starling said displays ambition that concerns him immensely.
“This might be the first time he’s been caught, but it might not be the first time he’s done this,” Starling said of sexual predators in general.
In addition to the stings, Starling said the sheriff’s office gives an Internet safety presentation every year to all the high schools in the county.
The suspect will not be named by The Advocate until he is charged in court.
Ithaca teacher, coach charged with sex crimes
By Raymond Drumsta. Journal Staff
An Ithaca High School physical education teacher and former girls volleyball coach is facing felony sex crime charges in Tyrone, Pa.
Darin M. Strong, 34, of Candor, is accused of using an Internet chat program to make sexual conversation with a citizen of Pennsylvania posing as a 13-year-old girl, and sending sexual Webcam images of himself to the person, according to a Tyrone Police Department criminal complaint. The complaint alleges Strong used an Internet chat program and the screen name “dstrong03.”
In addition to explicit sexual comments, Strong allegedly acknowledged in the online conversation that the citizen posing as the girl is “much younger than me,” according to a police affidavit.
The citizen presented the photos and a record of the online conversation to police on June 30, the complaint said. Police developed Strong’s identity and employment information via the screen name and contacted Ithaca Police, who matched a picture of him and the volleyball team with the Webcam photos, according to the affidavit.
The affidavit states the citizen belongs to an organization dedicated to educating parents and children about online predators.
“The majority of the charges will be criminal attempt, as (the citizen) is not a police officer as defined by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, nor is he a minor, but he posed as one,” the affidavit reads. On July 30, a warrant was issued for Strong’s arrest, and Tioga County, N.Y., Sheriff’s deputies arrested him on the warrant on Aug. 4.
He was extradited to Tyrone on Aug. 6 and charged with attempting to disseminate sexually explicit materials to minors, attempted unlawful contact with a minor with the purpose of committing a sexual offense, criminal use of a communication facility, all felonies; and indecent exposure, a misdemeanor.
Strong was arraigned in Tyrone Town Court and released on his own recognizance, court officials said.
Ithaca City School Superintendent Judith Pastel said Strong is still employed by the district but said she could not disclose his employment status as it related to the criminal case against him.
“It’s a personnel matter, which I’m not at liberty to discuss,” she said when reached for comment Thursday. “By law, I’m not allowed to discuss personnel matters.”
A school district source said Strong has been placed on administrative leave, calling the case a “black eye for the district.”
Ithaca High School Director of Athletics Bill Bryant said he could not comment on the case but confirmed that Strong had resigned as volleyball coach on Aug. 14, four days before the opening day of practice.
Strong’s wife was an assistant volleyball coach at the high school and has resigned, the source said.
Pastel declined to comment if Strong has received any official reprimands or disciplinary action while employed by the district, and she said she couldn’t confirm or deny if district officials were cooperating with law enforcement agencies in the case.
“As with any legal situation, we cooperate if we’re asked to,” she said. She said she learned of the case from the Binghamton Press and Sun-Bulletin, which said Strong was arrested for being a fugitive from justice from Pennsylvania.
She said she researched the issue and discovered the underlying charges but issued no formal statement about it to district staff, parents or students. She estimated that Strong has worked for the district for about 10 years.
“As part of our application process, applicants have to indicate whether they have been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor,” she said. If there is a conviction, applicants must undergo further screening, including a review of the conviction record, Pastel said, and the hiring decision is based on the nature of the offense and how long ago it occurred.
In addition to being a teacher and varsity girls volleyball coach, Strong coached the varsity football team in 2002 and 2003.
He is scheduled to return to Tyrone Town Court on Sept. 9.
Strong could not be reached for comment.
AG Corbett Announces Arrest of Internet Predators from York County and West Virginia
HARRISBURG - Attorney General Tom Corbett has announced that agents from the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit have arrested a college student from Central Pennsylvania and a factory worker from West Virginia, both accused of using the Internet to send sexually explicit photos and webcam videos to what they believed were young girls. The “girls” were actually undercover agents from the Child Predator Unit.
Corbett identified the defendants as Michael Patrick Woodward, 21, 104 Beck Mill Road, Hanover, and Randall J. Myers Jr., 29, 505 Grant St., Newell, West Virginia.
“It is important for parents to discuss Internet safety with their children as part of their back-to-school preparations, now that many middle school and high school age children may be less supervised at home during after-school hours,” Corbett said. “Online activity by Internet predators typically shifts to the late-afternoon and evening hours when children return to school, but predators are also now using cell phones and other portable devices to send text messages or instant messages to children any time of the day or night, from any location.”
Corbett said that since January 2005, the Child Predator Unit has arrested 159 Internet predators from across Pennsylvania and several other states, including five arrests during the past week.
Corbett noted that predators are always drawn to locations that give them the greatest access to the largest number of potential victims, including Internet chat rooms; social networking websites like MySpace and Facebook; Internet message boards; video game sites; and even online classified ads on Craigslist.com. He added that Internet safety information for parents, children and teachers is available in the “Operation Safe Surf” section of the Attorney General’s Web site and presentations are available free-of-charge to interested schools and community groups.
Michael Patrick Woodward
Corbett said that Woodward, using the screen names “galactic_wood” and “xman_woody,” used an Internet chat room to approach an undercover agent from the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit who was using the online profile of a 14-year old girl.
According to the criminal complaint, Woodward sent the girl a nude webcam video of his exposed penis within minutes of his initial contact. Woodward also allegedly asked the girl if she had any other friends online who would be interested in viewing nude webcam videos, asking her, “you think they might want to see it,” and, “is there any other friends I may show?”
Corbett said that over the next several weeks Woodward allegedly sent a total of 12 nude photos or webcam videos to three different undercover agents from the Child Predator Unit, all using the online profiles of young girls. In one case, Woodward allegedly asked a girl, “would you like to see how big my thing is,” followed by the transmission of a video that compared the size of his penis to a drinking glass. After sending the video, Woodward allegedly instructed the girl to delete the file when she was finished viewing it.
Corbett said that Woodward was arrested at his home on Wednesday, August 27th, by agents from the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit, assisted by the Penn Township Police Department. Agents also executed a search warrant at Woodward’s home, seizing two computers and digital storage devices which will be analyzed by the Attorney General’s Computer Forensics Unit as part of an ongoing investigation.
Woodward is charged with twelve counts of unlawful contact with a minor (related to obscene or sexual performances) and one count of criminal use of a computer, all third-degree felonies which are each punishable by up to seven years in prison and $15,000 fines.
Woodward was held overnight at the York County Judicial Center and arraigned on criminal charges this morning. He was jailed in lieu of $75,000, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for Sept. 5th before Hanover Magisterial District Judge James S. Miner.
Corbett said that Woodward will be prosecuted in York County by Deputy Attorney General Michael A. Sprow of the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit.
Corbett thanked the Penn Township Police Department for their cooperation and assistance with this investigation.
Randall J. Myers Jr.
Corbett said that Myers, using the screen name “rawgangsta,” used an Internet chat room to approach an undercover agent from the Child Predator Unit who was using the online profile of a 13-year old girl.
Corbett said that during their initial chat, Myers allegedly told the girl, “I got a girlfriend but I have a thing for younger girls,” going on to ask her, “you have sex,” and “you like older guys?” Myers also allegedly sent the girl a digital photo of his penis, asking her, “you let me put that inside you?”
According to the criminal complaint, Myers repeatedly discussed meeting the girl in the Pittsburgh area and graphically describing the sex acts he wished to engage in, telling her, “I would want to sex you if I seen you,” and commenting, “let’s just me and you run away to Taiwan or something where age doesn’t matter.”
Corbett said that Myers also allegedly instructed the girl to masturbate in order to “practice” for their meeting and asked the girl to send him nude pictures of herself - at one point offering to send her a webcam, “so I can see more of you.”
According to the criminal complaint, Myers also made online contact with a second undercover agent from the Child Predator Unit. Myers allegedly sent the girl a nude photo of his penis and proposing that they meet for sex, commenting, “I like to look for girls and see how many I can sleep with.”
Myers was arrested in East Liverpool, Ohio, on Wednesday, August 27th, as he was returning home from work. Myers waived extradition in Ohio and was returned to Pittsburgh for arraignment in Allegheny County Court. A preliminary hearing will be scheduled for a future date.
Deputies from the Hancock County Sherriff’s Department executed a search warrant at Myers’ home in West Virginia, assisting agents from the Child Predator Unit in the seizure of computers and digital storage devices. Those items were turned over to the Attorney General’s Computer Forensics Unit for analysis as part of an ongoing investigation.
Myers is charged with seven counts of unlawful contact with a minor, first-degree felonies which are each punishable by up to 20 years in prison and $25,000 fines. Myers is also charged with two counts of criminal use of a computer, both third-degree felonies which are each punishable by up to seven years in prison and $15,000 fines.
Myers will be prosecuted in Allegheny County by Deputy Attorney General William Caye II of the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit.
Corbett thanked the Hancock County, West Virginia, Sheriff’s Department and the East Liverpool, Ohio, Police Department for their cooperation and assistance with this investigation.
Internet Dangers
Corbett cautioned parents and children to be alert for adults who sexually proposition them, send them explicit photos or webcam videos or attempt to arrange meetings. Since the creation of the Child Predator Unit in January 2005, Corbett said that agents have arrested 159 Internet predators from Pennsylvania and several other states, including 44 arrests since the beginning of this year.
Corbett says the Attorney General’s Office has been joined by the Pennsylvania Bar Association, 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 promote Internet safety education and to remind parents and teens across Pennsylvania to remain vigilant.
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 online communication to help use the Internet in a safe and responsible manner.
Suspected internet predators can be reported to the Attorney General’s Office by calling the toll-free Child Predator Hotline, at 1-800-385-1044, or filing an online complaint.
Internet safety tips and other information for parents, children and teachers are available in the “Operation Safe Surf” and “Just for Kids” sections of the Attorney General’s Web site.
“Operation Safe Surf” materials are provided free-of-charge to interested schools and community groups. Organizations interested in materials, speakers or presentations, contact the Attorney General’s Education and Outreach Office at 1-800-525-7642 or via email at education@attorneygeneral.gov.
