Wacky Internet Predator Wednesday – Issue 25
It’s another weekly round-up of older perverts chasing younger kids (or so they believe) on the Internet. However, it should be noted both of these are from last Wednesday; they just didn’t come across my desk until after that…
So here’s a look at 18 more reasons (two separate 9-person busts!) why you need to have monitoring software like our PC Pandora on your machine to keep your kids safe.
The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in Las Vegas arrested 9 local residents for child pornography. One resident was the purveyor and even filmed his own home movie with a 14-year-old girl.
The sheriff’s Office in Tangipahoa Parish (Louisiana) arrested 9 predators that tried to solicit what they thought were 13-15 year old children, but were actually undercover officers. The men ranged in age from 22 to 54 years old, including a 22-year-old police officer!
These are the stories:
Protect your kids from Internet predators
Nov 26, 2008 10:27 AM ESTA six-week undercover investigation ends with nine local arrests for child pornography. The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force showed off the names and faces of those who are behind bars. While most are accused of possessing child porn, one is accused of making it.
Michael Ward is charged with one count of producing child porn, in addition to 24 local child porn counts. Police say four of the nine suspects were arrested in Metro’s jurisdiction and five in Henderson. This case reminds us about all of the dangers for kids lurking out there on the Internet.
None of the suspects are connected, but their online activity is the common link. News 3′s Gerard Ramalho explains these arrests and what parents can do to protect their kids when they go online.
It’s a frightening thought if you’re a parent. News 3 did travel to the neighborhood where Michael Ward lived and spoke with some of his neighbors. They were shocked by his arrest and had no idea about his alleged involvement.
Police say child predators, on the surface, look and act just like everyone else. They can live in any house in any neighborhood. But police say what happened inside Ward’s northwest home is something most would call detestable.
40-year-old Michael Ward was known to be a computer expert. What many don’t know is that he was allegedly addicted to child porn and even produced his own video with a 14-year-old girl.
Stephanie Parker is the Executive Director of Nevada Child Seekers, a partner with Metro in trying to combat child porn. She says kids are often lured in via the Internet. But sometimes, their attackers are people they already know and trust. In Ward’s case, police say his alleged victim was a friend of the family.
“I’ve been asked before what’s a profile of a predator. All shapes and sizes, professions, socio-economic status…and predators look for opportunity. Children’s perception of a stranger is not the same as an adult. It really isn’t, and that’s something parents need to be aware of.”
Parents can do their part by monitoring all of their child’s computer activity and also by monitoring their friends and whereabouts.
For one girl, the damage, according to police, has already been done. But families need to be pro-active and diligent so that the next victim doesn’t turn out to be someone they love.
News 3 learned that more than 50 percent of child pornography comes from the United States. If you have kids and have a computer at home, experts suggest that you keep the computer in a family room, never let your children log on by themselves, establish the rules early, and hopefully, you can keep them protected.
Local Internet Predators Arrested
By David D’AquinChildren in Tangipahoa Parish are safer tonight. Thanks to the Sheriff’s Office, 9 suspected sex offenders are off the street. The men arrested range in age from 22 to 54 and one is even a police officer. Authorities say they all have one thing in common: they target underage children on the internet.
No children were hurt and Sheriff’s Deputies posed as kids on myspace.com and busted people from as far away as California, including a cop.
Detectives say in less than 10 minutes your child could be targeted by a sex predator. Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff, Daniel Edwards, says, “You can believe someone is trying to get to them by way of interest communication.”
Toby Aguillard works for the Tangipahoa Sheriff’s Office and he set up a fake MySpace page and within minutes grown men were trying to hook up with who they thought was a teen-aged girl.
“It’s not hard at all, unfortunately.” Sheriff Daniel Edwards says it’s hard to believe how easy it is for an adult to prey on your child. “It makes you feel concerned as a parent, but also as a chief law enforcement officer.
Tangipahoa Deputies teamed up with deputies from St. John the Baptist Parish and the AG’s office to catch 9 men, including 22 year old Chad Raborn, Jr., a Tickfaw Police Officer. Raborn was busted for child pron and having sex with a juvenile.
39 year old Saravanan Perumal from California is in the U.S. on a student visa. He’s locked up for trying to solicit children for sex. David Hartman from Alabama was busted for computer aided solicitation and indecent behavior with kids. Dalton Lacombe from Iota was busted, along with Ricky Hano from Holden. Royce Adams from Shreveport was busted for soliciting minors and indecent behaviors. Jeremy Barr from Many faces two counts of computer aided solicitation. Trenton Breland from Bogalusa is charged with three counts of solicitation.
“The people contact us, so these predators believe that they’re talking to an under-aged person, 13-15 years old.”
The Sheriff’s Office says they’re working hard to get these guys off their computers and in jail. Sheriff Daniel Edwards says internet predators won’t ever go away, so it’s important for parents to watch their kids online.
December 7th, 2008 at 3:07 PM
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