Pandora’s Blog

Quick round up today of only three perverts busted in the last week for trying to solicit kids online. Of course, these guys will continue to try hard in their quest, but parents can make sure their kids are safe by talking to them and monitoring their internet activity with PC Pandora monitoring software.

Here’s the summary; detailed accounts follow:

• Two men in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania (ages 38 and 30) were arrested for using the Internet to sexually proposition what they believed were 13-year old girls, as well as sending sexually explicit webcam videos. Of course, the “girls” were really undercover agents!
• Though not necessarily a “predator,” a 37-year-old Wisconsin small business owner was arrested for possession of child pornography.
• A 39-year-old Minnesota man met an 11-year-old girl online in an Internet chat room and convinced her he was a teenage boy. He also convinced her to meet him at a local park. She went, with her friend, and when she got there the man led her into the woods, kissed her and assaulted her. Remember – THE GIRL WENT ON HER OWN ACCORD!

Does that last one yet convince you parents that you need to monitor your child’s internet activity with PC Pandora monitoring software? Do you REALLY know what your kid is doing online?

November 13, 2008
Attorney General Corbett announces arrest of two Internet predators in Clearfield County; 177 total arrests by Child Predator Unit

HARRISBURG - Attorney General Tom Corbett today announced that agents from the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit have arrested two Clearfield County men who are both accused of using the Internet to sexually proposition what they believed were 13-year old girls, as well as sending sexually explicit webcam videos. The “girls” were actually undercover agents from the Child Predator Unit who were using the online profiles of children.

Corbett identified the defendants as Michael Shawn Whelpley, 38, 181 Mockingbird Lane, Brockway, and Randall Scott Luzier, 30, 314 Little Clearfield Creek Road, Olanta.

“Both of these men are accused of using Internet chat rooms to sexually proposition what they believed were young girls,” Corbett said. “It is important for parents to understand how quickly online conversations between their children and strangers can progress to sexual conversations, the transmission of graphic photos or webcam videos and, in some cases, attempts to arrange face-to-face meetings for sex.”

Corbett said that in addition to sexual conversations, Whelpley and Luzier are both accused of using computer webcams to transmit nude images of themselves to the undercover agents.

Michael Shawn Whelpley
Corbett said that Whelpley, using the screen name “messiah236,” used an Internet chat room to approach an undercover agent on September 20, 2008. At the time, the agent was using the online profile of a 13-year old girl.

According to the criminal complaint, Whelpley confirmed the girl’s age and asked to exchange photos, commenting that he was, “old enough to be your dad.”

Corbett said that as the online chat continued, Whelpley allegedly explained in graphic detail the sex acts he wished to perform with the girl. Whelpley is also accused of sending the girl a webcam video that showed him nude and masturbating in front of his computer.

Whelpley was arrested at his home on Wednesday, November 12th, by agents from the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit, assisted by officers from the Sandy Township Police Department. Agents also executed a search warrant, seizing computer equipment that will be analyzed by the Attorney General’s Computer Forensics Unit as part of an ongoing investigation.

Whelpley is charged with one count of unlawful contact with a minor and one count 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.

Whelpley was preliminarily arraigned before Dubois Magisterial District Judge Patrick N. Ford and lodged in the Clearfield County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 21st, at 11:45 a.m., before Magisterial District Judge Ford.

Randall Scott Luzier
Corbett said that Luzier, using the screen name “rndyluzier,” allegedly used an Internet chat room to approach an undercover agent in March 2008. At the time, the agent was using the online profile of a 13-year old girl.

According to the criminal complaint, Luzier requested photos of the girl, specifically asking for “any sexy ones.” Luzier also allegedly questioned the girl about her sexual experience, asking her, “have u ever messed around like dirty things,” and later explaining that he meant, “just sex with me.”

Corbett said that during a series of online chats over the next several weeks Luzier allegedly asked the girl to send him additional photos, urging her to get a digital camera so that she could, “take a naughty pic and send it to me.”

According to the criminal complaint, Luzier sent the girl a webcam video that showed him nude and masturbating in front of his computer. Luzier also allegedly asked the girl to get her own webcam so that she could send videos to him, telling her he wanted to see her “naked body” and later commenting, “if you luv me u would get one.”

Luzier was arrested at his home on Wednesday, November 12th, by agents from the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit, assisted by Pennsylvania State Police from the Clearfield Station. Agents also executed a search warrant at Luzier’s home, seizing computer equipment that will be analyzed by the Attorney General’s Computer Forensics Unit as part of an ongoing investigation.

Luzier is charged with two counts of unlawful contact with a minor, two counts of criminal attempted obscene and sexual performances and two counts 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.

Luzier was preliminarily arraigned via video conference before Houtzdale Magisterial District Judge James L. Hawkins and lodged in the Clearfield County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 19th, at 9:45 a.m., in Clearfield County Central Court.

Internet Dangers
Corbett said that since the creation of the Child Predator Unit in January 2005, agents have arrested 177 Internet predators from across Pennsylvania and several other states, including 66 arrests so far this year.

Corbett cautioned parents and children to be alert for adults who sexually proposition them, send explicit photos or videos or try to arrange face-to-face meetings. He encouraged parents to discuss Internet safety with their children, including the danger of meeting strangers who approach them online, and advised parents to ask their children to show them what they are doing online.

Corbett noted that suspected Internet predators can be reported to the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit by using the “report a predator” link, located on the front page of the Attorney General’s website, at www.attorneygeneral.gov, or by calling the Child Predator Hotline, at 1-800-385-1044.

Internet safety tips and other information are available in the “Operation Safe Surf” and “Just for Kids” sections of the Attorney General’s website. 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

(A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty.)
# # #

November 14, 2008
Wis. business owner indicted for child porn

A small business owner from Osceola, Wis. was charged with possession of child pornography.

A federal grand jury in Madison indicted Jason Pape, 37, Thursday.

Erik Peterson, the U.S. attorney for western Wisconsin, said Pape was in possession of three computer hard drives and a thumb drive which contained images of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

According to the New Richmond News, Pape runs Pape Taxi service which has a contract with the City of New Richmond for transportation services. He also ran unsuccessfully for municipal court judge in Osceola.

The paper reports, Polk County first began investigating Pape after a child brought the case to the attention of a school in New Richmond.

The investigation was part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s nationwide Project Safe Childhood which is designed to protect children from online predators.

More information on Project Safe Childhood

November 19, 2008
MN man accused of touching 11-year-old girl

In a world where predators often target children online, this could be a textbook case. According to authorities, the crime started several months ago in an Internet chatroom. It was in that forum that an 11-year-old girl struck up a relationship with a person she thought was a teenager. “She believed he was 17. They were conversing for four months until they made arrangements to meet in an Apple Valley Park,” said Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom.

On October 11th, the girl and her friend showed up at the park. But rather than meet a teenaged boy, they met instead 39-year-old Dennis White, a Level One Sex Offender who lives in Robbinsdale. According to the criminal complaint, White led the girl into the woods where he kissed and touched her before letting her go. White contends he drove away after realizing the ages of the girls — a claim that contradicts the testimony of both children.

On November 7th, prosecutors charged White with criminal sexual conduct in the second degree. If convicted, White could face up to four years in prison.

That sentence is stronger, given a previous conviction of criminal sexual conduct in the second degree that also, officials say, involved a child. But on the same day as this case came to light, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension announced Minnesota is one of two states to get a half million dollar grant to combat child sexual predators. The other state is Ohio.

Officials say they plan to use the money to beef up their program in several ways, including: buying more technology to store digital pornographic evidence; paying for local officers to wage their own local investigations; and monitoring offenders already on parole and probation.

Officials believe they received their grant because of their stated goal to find, arrest and prosecute 80 child sexual predators. “This is going to make a huge impact on our investigations and Internet crimes against children here in the state of Minnesota,” said Janell Rasmussen with the BCA.

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