A national survey shows one in four children who use the internet are contacted by sexual predators. Here in Utah, a special task force of investigators working full time tracking down online predators is being recognized as one of the most effective teams in the country. Carole Mikita tells us more.
This is where it often begins, an internet chat room. A young teenage boy or girl will start a friendly conversation with someone he or she believes is the same age, but that person can be an adult pedophile who soon begins asking to meet somewhere, just the two of them. What he wants is sex.
For the last 31 months, agents with the Utah Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force have taken the offensive, posing as teens, corresponding with pedophiles and arresting them at those arranged meeting places.
Lt. Ken Hansen / Crimes Against Children Task Force: "ON SOME OCCASIONS, THEY'LL START TALKING TO US ABOUT SEX AND WANTING TO MEET US, AND ASKING US TO SNEAK OUT OF THE HOUSE, OR MAKING OTHER ARRANGEMENTS LIKE ASKING WHAT HOTEL OR MOTEL MIGHT BE CLOSE TO OUR HOUSE."
In just over two years, 76 pedophiles have been arrested here, and Utah's agents hold the national record -- catching four in just one day. Despite that success they say they still need parents' help.
Carole Mikita / reporting: "Even with a seemingly innocent name and password, investigators say, a predator can find a child's address, telephone number, even a school."
Richard Lambert / U.S. Attorney's Office: "THE ADULT PREDATOR WILL SEND THE CHILD A PICTURE OF THEMSELVES THAT'S AN OBSCENE OR INDECENT PHOTOGRAPH, OR IN OTHER WAYS SHOW THE CHILD PORNOGRAPHY TO KIND OF LOWER THEIR RESISTANCE."
Officers say identifying predators online takes time, but when they find them, they know they have succeeded in protecting a number of Utah children.
The U.S. Attorney's office urges parents to be aware of their children's internet activities, particularly who they are talking to in chat rooms. For more information, click here.
July 29, 2002
