Wacky Internet Predator Wednesday – Volume 35b
Of course, right after I post my weekly round-up, I see these stories. BOTH involve real victims (not undercover cops) and BOTH involve MySpace.
It is important to point out that the first story is alleged and the accused is pleading not-guilty. Let that be known.
The other story, however, involves the sentencing of a 22-year-old guy that met a 12-year-old boy on MySpace. The 12-year-old rode his bike to the 22’s house, telling his parents he was going out to meet a friend. Nice. They went to the movies, had dinner… a proper date. Then fooled around. Bottom line: the 12-year-old consented!!! Oh and p.s. the 22 made a living jacking it in front of webcams for other pervs. Nice.
I gues you can guess what I’m goig to say next… Both of these incident are reasons why PARENTS NEED TO MONITOR WHAT THEIR KIDS DO ONLINE! Both situations could have been prevented if the parents of the kids were using computer monitoring software like our PC Pandora. Seriously. You think you know what your child is doing? You think they are telling you everything and not lying? guess again…
An alleged gang member from north suburban Waukegan denied accusations Monday that he sexually abused a teenage girl he met on MySpace.
Angel Acosta, 21, pleaded not guilty to three counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and one count of unlawful restraint before Cook County Judge Dennis Porter, Cook County State’s Attorney’s office spokeswoman Tandra Simonton said Tuesday. His next court date is set for March 23.
Acosta, an alleged Latin King member, met a 15-year-old girl on MySpace.com in July.
He is accused of sexually abusing the girl twice, once in January and once in February.
If convicted, Acosta, of the 600 block of South Jackson Street in Waukegan, faces up to 7 years in prison for each Class 2 felony count of sexual abuse and up to 3 years for restraint, a Class 4 felony.
March 17, 2009
Man jailed for MySpace case
Ed Crump, WTVDRALEIGH (WTVD) — A Cary man pleaded guilty Tuesday to taking indecent liberties with a 12-year-old he met on the MySpace social networking website.
Dakota Melton, 22, will serve six months in jail and then go on probation. He also has to register as a sex offender.
Last August, Melton was charged with second-degree kidnapping and taking indecent liberties with a minor.
Investigators say Melton made contact with the 12-year-old Sanford boy online, and then met him in person. The boy told his parents he was going to meet a friend.
Police say Melton picked up the boy in Sanford, took him to dinner and a movie, and then brought him back to his Cary apartment.
According to search warrants, the boy fell asleep on the couch and woke up to Melton “sucking on his neck.” A medical exam found hickeys on the boy’s body and a foreign pubic hair in his shorts.
Detectives said Melton admitted to kissing the boy but denied they had sex.
Investigators say Melton portrayed himself as an 18-year-old former porn star on his MySpace page. Melton admitted to investigators that he and his then roommate made their livings masturbating in front of internet Web cams for clients.
