Latest news with #childpredators
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Baldwin County teachers learn how to spot child predators
ROBERTSDALE, Ala. (WKRG) — Teachers were the students in a Baldwin County classroom as they learned how child predators operate. 4 arrested in McIntosh on child exploitation charges 'I work these cases more often than not,' HSI Special Agent and instructor Kent Blacklidge said. He says they usually start with a photo on a phone, a chat on social media, or an online game. 'The majority of the targets have been teenagers, but that's not to say there haven't been much, much younger,' he said. Cyber tips originating from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for Baldwin County show a disturbing trend. In 2023, there were 85 tips. 84 cases were cleared by the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office, with 18 arrests. Last year, there were 82 tips. 78 cases were cleared with 11 arrests. This year, there has been 44 tips, 21 cases cleared, five arrests, and 23 still active. 'Just hearing the numbers was very sad to hear and kind of understanding more how the AI is coming more into playing roles is scary,' Kaelin Dawson, softball coach at Robertsdale High School, said. The lesson, according to Blacklidge, is that anything shared privately online has an eternal footprint and can be used against you. 'I am glad to hear there is a program to help prevent on the front end and educate these kids so they know what they are doing before they press any buttons,' Daphne High School Health Science teacher Lannah Saine said. Blacklidge told the teachers that anyone who requests videos, pictures, or eventually to meet in person is considered a red flag that a child predator could be at the other end of the conversation. Body found at Mobile motel 'The sooner you get law enforcement involved, the more likely it is there is a positive outcome.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
CBS News
31-07-2025
- CBS News
Florida AG Uthmeier announces record-breaking sting, arrests 48 child predators, ICE flags six foreign nationals
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Wednesday the arrest of 48 individuals and the filing of 153 charges during a six-day undercover operation targeting online child predators in Central Florida. The operation, led by the Marion County Sheriff's Office and supported by the Office of Statewide Prosecution, involved nine law enforcement agencies at the local, state, and federal levels. According to Uthmeier, it marks the highest number of arrests in the history of this annual initiative. Among those arrested were six foreign nationals who were flagged with detainers by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Authorities said they traveled to Florida from Jamaica, El Salvador, Dubai, and India with the intent to exploit children. "They came after children, but Florida and federal law enforcement were waiting for them," Uthmeier said. "Thanks to the Marion County Sheriff's Office for putting this operation together so these men were stopped before they could harm a single child." Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods urged parents to remain vigilant. "Parents, we will never arrest every single one of them," Woods said. "You have to know what your child is doing online, and children have to know what dangers are lurking online." Officials said the suspects used various platforms, including Snapchat, to try to contact minors who were actually undercover officers. The Attorney General's Office is suing Snapchat, alleging the company violated Florida law by misleading parents about the platform's risks. "This is one of the best operations I've seen," said State Attorney for the Fifth Judicial Circuit Bill Gladson. "Sheriff Woods and his deputies did an outstanding job catching and removing 40 predators from the Central Florida community." The 153 charges filed include: • Traveling to meet a minor for illegal sexual conduct (34)• Human trafficking (5)• Using a computer to solicit a child for sexual conduct (48)• Unlawful use of a two-way communications device to facilitate a felony (40)• Transmitting material harmful to a minor (14)• Traveling to meet a minor for illegal sexual conduct facilitated by a guardian (1)• Using a computer to solicit a guardian for illegal sexual conduct with a child (1)• Fleeing to elude a law enforcement officer (1)• Resisting arrest without violence (2)• Drug charges (4)• Possession of drug paraphernalia (1)• Reckless driving (1)• Violation of probation (1)
Telegraph
30-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
No 10 orchestrated Savile attack against Farage
No10 orchestrated the Jimmy Savile attack on Nigel Farage, The Telegraph understands. Multiple government sources said Peter Kyle, the Science Secretary, had spoken to Downing Street before appearing on Sky News on Tuesday, when he made controversial remarks about Mr Farage and the notorious paedophile. In the interview, Mr Kyle said the Reform leader was 'on the side' of child predators and extreme pornographers, after Mr Farage pledged to scrap the Online Safety Act if he becomes prime minister. 'Make no mistake about it, if people like Jimmy Savile were alive today, he would be perpetrating his crimes online, and Nigel Farage is saying that he is on their side, not the side of children,' he said. Despite concern from some Labour figures that the attack could backfire on Sir Keir – who was Director of Public Prosecutions when the Crown Prosecution Service declined to bring charges against Savile – other Labour ministers rowed in behind Mr Kyle. Heidi Alexander, the Transport Secretary, repeated the allegation on Wednesday morning, telling Sky News: 'Nigel Farage is, in effect, saying that he is [on paedophiles'] side because he's saying he's wanting to repeal the Online Safety Act. 'In effect, what Nigel Farage is saying is that he's totally happy for there to be a free-for-all on the internet. 'That's not the position of the Labour Government. It's not the position of me. It's not the position of Keir Starmer or Peter Kyle, and that is the point that the Technology Secretary was rightly making yesterday.' Mr Farage has demanded an apology for what he called a 'disgusting' smear against him, arguing that Mr Kyle had become the 'minister for political slander'. However, the fact that No 10 was aware of Mr Kyle's comments before they were issued suggests that Sir Keir's team is willing to launch a major war with Reform on child safety. Reform is currently eight points ahead of Labour in the polls, and has launched a summer campaign on crime that is targeted at Sir Keir's performance on keeping streets safe. Labour has begun targeting Mr Farage personally on the doorstep, releasing leaflets designed to look like scratch cards with the slogan 'don't gamble on Farage'. A Labour source said the Savile debate was 'a fight we're willing to have,' adding: 'Shielding kids from gruesome stuff online should be a no-brainer'. 'It is quite amusing seeing Farage talking about 'disgusting remarks',' the source said. 'He has a distinguished record of making punchy and disgusting remarks in his own right.' Savile last became a feature of Westminster debate when Boris Johnson accused Sir Keir of failing to prosecute him in 2022. The former Tory prime minister later said he had only intended to criticise the CPS, not Sir Keir's actions. There is no evidence that Sir Keir knew about the advice provided to police by the CPS that Savile should not be charged. Richard Scorer, a lawyer who has represented Savile victims, said at the time that Mr Johnson's attack was a 'troubling smear' and he was 'weaponising' their suffering.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Yahoo
8 alleged child predators caught in undercover sting operation
PORT CLINTON – The Ottawa County Grand Jury has issued indictments for eight men arrested in a multi-agency undercover sting called Operation Safe Harbor, which targeted online child predators. The grand jury met July 2. Three of the men were indicted by the grand jury on additional charges because the ongoing investigations turn up new information. One of the men, Larry Wymer, 35, of Whitehouse, is a Tier II registered sex offender previously convicted in 2013 of gross sexual imposition involving a minor in Lucas County. The sting took place from June 19 to June 22; Ottawa County Prosecutor James VanEerten said it involved coordination between 17 agencies at the local, state and federal levels, but Operation Safe Harbor was primarily handled by the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children, in partnership with the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office and the Ottawa County Prosecutor's Office with the Major Crimes Unit. Officers posed as children between the ages of 12 and 15 on various online platforms that are frequented by children, VanEerten said. Those who were arrested had initiated contact, expressed an intent to engage in sexual activity and traveled to pre-arranged locations believing they were meeting a minor. Some of them also offered monetary compensation in exchange for sexual contact. 'We're constantly trying to find new ways to get to parents and to get to kids, that we don't give guns to kids and let them play with them, just like we don't give our kids electronic devices without supervision and let them play with them," VanEerten said. "They are just as dangerous in another way. There are bad people who are dedicated to finding ways to harm children online." Those arrested and indicted with alleged crimes against children were: Robert Neuenschwander, 75, of Delta, was indicted on 2 counts of importuning, 2 counts of attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and 2 counts of possession of criminal tools. His combined cash bond is $450,000. Luis Romero-Perez, 29, of Toledo, was charged with importuning, attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and possession of criminal tools. His combined cash bond is $450,000. Noelan Winston, 23, of Huron, was charged with importuning, attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, possession of criminal tools, conspiracy and attempt to commit an offense. His combined cash bond is $450,000. Winston also sent nude images of himself. Stephen Walterbach, 43, of Marblehead, was charged with importuning, attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and possession of criminal tools. His combined cash bond is $300,000. Keith Geyer, 46, of North Royalton, was charged with importuning, attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, compelling prostitution and possession of criminal tools. His combined cash bond is $400,000. Ryan Thomas, 40, of Swanton, was charged with importuning and possession of criminal tools. His combined cash bond is $300,000. Adam Smith, 38, of Oregon, was charged with importuning, attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, and possession of criminal tools. His combined cash bond is $300,000. Larry Wymer, 35, of Whitehouse, was indicted on importuning, attempted unlawful sexual contact with a minor, possession of criminal tools and failure to provide notice, which is in reference to Wymer's previous registration as a sex offender. It requires several types of notice to be given to the local sheriff's office, including internet identifiers. 'Internet identifiers are names or usernames associated with any account or email address that you use online,' VanEerten said. 'It's so that we know how to track those people. It's the same thing as online chat applications. If you have an account, you have to provide us with your usernames.' Wymer's combined cash bond is $475,000. An indictment is a formal accusation that an individual committed a crime. Other individuals are also being investigated, but have not yet been charged. VanEerten explained some of the charges, which were felonies at the F3, F4 or F5 level. Possession of criminal tools could be almost anything used while committing the other offenses, which typically included a mobile phone or computer. Each man has been assigned a cash bond for each charge. All eight men were still incarcerated in the Ottawa County Detention Facility as of July 3, with initial appearances and arraignments likely by July 7. Investigations of those men continue. rlapointe@ 419-332-2674 This article originally appeared on Port Clinton News Herald: Multi-agency sting operation catches 8 alleged child predators
CBS News
23-06-2025
- CBS News
Eight men arrested in online predator investigation in northern Ohio
A multi-agency investigation into online child predator activity has resulted in arrests of eight Ohio residents so far, the Ottawa County Prosecutor's Office in Port Clinton, Ohio announced. Federal agencies involved in what became known as Operation Safe Harbor included Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Border Patrol, Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Marshals Service. The four-day undercover investigation targeted individuals who were believed to be taking part in the online solicitation of minors. "This operation underscores the proactive and collaborative approach law enforcement is taking to address a growing threat in the digital age," the press release said. "Online exploitation of children is a serious and evolving threat," Ottawa County Prosecutor James VanEerten said in the news release. "We are committed to aggressively investigating and prosecuting those who seek to harm children in our communities." Ohio agencies involved in the case were Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children, Ottawa County Sheriff's Office, Ottawa County Prosecutor's Office / Major Crimes Unit, Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center, Tiffin Police Department, Sandusky County Drug Task Force, Port Clinton Police Department, Oak Harbor Police Department, Perrysburg Police Department, Defiance Police Department and Danbury Police Department. The eight men lived in communities across northern Ohio, from Delta to North Royalton and including Toledo. The resulting charges include attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, disseminating matter harmful to juveniles and possession of criminal tools. Numerous other suspects have been identified, and investigators continue to work on the case, the press release said.
