Pandora’s Blog

It’s the weekly round-up of Internet predators busted in the last week. Actually, two of these stories are from last Wednesday, but I caught wind of them after I posted the blog.

I can’t say and stress this enough: just because your kids seem fine and it appears they aren’t chatting with pedophiles online, doesn’t mean these guys aren’t out there, trying, and potentially eventually succeeding. Take advantage of parental control and monitoring software programs like our PC Pandora to monitor the computer and Internet activity of your children to make sure, verify, and KNOW they are safe.

Here’s a recap of the pervs busted and the full stories pasted below with links…

• A 48-year-old Southern Oregon man was arrested and charged with soliciting sex online from young girls in the Portland area. Prosecutors are recommending ONLY 18 months in prison. By the end of 2009 he’ll be at it again.
• A 44-year-old Michigan man has become the 200th person to be arrested in a sting to crack down on Internet predators. He was charged with four felonies, including: child sexually abusive activity, using the Internet to communicate with another child to commit child sexually abusive activity, using the Internet to disseminate sexually explicit matter to a minor and using the Internet to distribute child sexually abusive material to a minor. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.
• Two more men in Pennsylvania (a 64-year-old and 28-year-old) were arrested by agents of the Pennsylvania attorney general’s Child Predator Unit and accused of using the Internet to sexually proposition what they believed were 12-year-old girls.

Ore. man pleads guilty in online sex sting
By the Associated Press – September 10, 2008

MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) – A man arrested in a sting in Southern Oregon has pleaded guilty to soliciting sex online from young girls in the Portland area.

Police say an undercover officer posed as a minor to catch 48-year-old Derek Crofford Machen of Eugene. He was living in Gold Hill when he was arrested.

He pleaded guilty Tuesday in Jackson County to charges of encouraging child sex abuse, luring a minor and online sexual corruption of a minor.

2 of the charges, luring a minor and online sexual corruption of a minor, are new state statutes meant to crack down on online sexual predators.

Prosecutors recommended a sentence of 18 months.

Machen was released from the Jackson County Jail on $60,000 bail.

Linden man becomes 200th person nabbed in Internet sting by attorney general’s office
By RoNeisha Mullen – September 10, 2008

LINDEN, Michigan — A 44-year-old Linden man has become the 200th person to be arrested in a sting to crack down on Internet predators.

James S. Rogers was charged last month with four felonies, including: child sexually abusive activity, using the Internet to communicate with another child to commit child sexually abusive activity, using the Internet to disseminate sexually explicit matter to a minor and using the Internet to distribute child sexually abusive material to a minor.

If convicted, Rogers faces up to 20 years in prison.

“Every day, child predators troll the Internet seeking to exploit our children,” state Attorney General Mike Cox said in a statement released Wednesday. “Today’s record-breaking achievement is a reminder that my office and law enforcement across the state continues to track down child predators in order to remove them before they can hurt a child.”

According to the attorney general’s office, Rogers posed online as an undercover volunteer from the citizens group Perverted Justice.

Officials said Rogers used the screen name “niceguy4u810.”

He was arrested Aug. 25 while attempting to meet with someone he thought was a 14-year-old girl. Officials said he also sent sexually explicit photos to the person.

Child pornography was found on Rogers computer, according to officials, and more charges are possible.

Judge Tina Brooks Green of the 24th District Court in Romulus set bond at $50,000 cash. Rogers is expected back in court Oct. 1.

The Internet predators program was launched in 2003 by Cox to catch adults who attempt to prey on minors.

Internet predator charges:

• The state attorney general’s office has charged James S. Rogers, 44, of Linden with several felonies, including using the Internet to commit child sexually abusive activity. Rogers was the 200th Internet predator arrest since 2003.
• Officials believe Rogers used the screen name “niceguy4u810″ and are asking parents to check their children’s buddy lists.
• People who believe their child had contact with Rogers should call (810) 456-0180.

Two men arrested on porn charges
September 13, 2008

PUNXSUTAWNEY – Two Punxsutawney men were arrested Thursday by agents of the Pennsylvania attorney general’s Child Predator Unit and accused of using the Internet to sexually proposition what they believed were 12-year-old girls. The girls were actually undercover agents from the Child Predator Unit.

Arrested were Michael McCarthy, 64, of 213 S. Jefferson St., and Robert Brewer, 28, of 708 Mill Iron Road.

According to the criminal complaint, McCarthy and Brewer are both charged with using a computer in McCarthy’s home to sexually proposition the agents posing as young girls. Using an Internet chat room that was created to discuss video games, the defendants are accused of sending the girl two photos of what appeared to be naked boys.

A release from the attorney general’s office said that later online conversations with the girl allegedly included the transmission of an explicit video depicting an adult male having sex with a young girl. The chats allegedly included messages such as “can we have sex in your bedroom?”

According to the attorney general’s office, a detailed investigation determined that Brewer allegedly visited McCarthy’s home frequently and used McCarthy’s computer to access the Internet and communicate with other individuals, allegedly sending pornography photos and videos to individuals he chatted with.

McCarthy is accused of using his computer to exchange and view illegal child pornography.

Agents executed a search warrant at McCarthy’s home on Feb. 20, and with the assistance of Punxsutawney police, seized his computer. A review of the computer by the attorney general’s computer forensics unit identified 116 images of suspected child pornography, including photos and videos allegedly depicting children under the age of 18 engaging in sexual activity.

McCarthy and Brewer were arrested in Punxsutawney Thursday by agents of the Child Predator Unit.

Brewer is charged with two counts of unlawful contact with a minor, two counts of attempted dissemination of obscene or sexual materials, two counts of sexual abuse of children and six counts of criminal use of a computer. Those charges are all third-degree felonies that are each punishable by up to seven years in prison and $15,000 fines.

McCarthy is charged with 116 counts of sexual abuse of children, two counts of unlawful contact with a minor and two counts of criminal use of a computer, all third-degree felonies that are punishable by up to seven years in prison and $15,000 fines.

Both defendants were arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Douglas Chambers in Punxsutawney.

Brewer was lodged in the Jefferson County Jail in lieu of $150,000 bail. McCarthy was jailed in lieu of $50,000 bail.

Preliminary hearings are scheduled Thursday.

Attorney General Tom Corbett has 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, agents have arrested 162 Internet predators.

Corbett also encouraged parents to discuss Internet safety with their children and advised parents to ask their children to show them what they are doing online.

Internet safety tips for parents, children and teachers are available in the “Operation Safe Surf” and “Just for Kids” sections of the attorney general’s Web site at education@attorneygeneral.gov.

Suspected Internet predators can be reported to the attorney general’s office through a toll-free hotline, (800) 385-1044.

See Video here of this same story from WTAJ-TV: Jefferson County Men Charged As Internet Predators

This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 17th, 2008 at 2:59 PM and is filed under Main. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.