Protect Your Child Online

The issue of online protection of children is of great importance all over the world, where children, now united by the World Wide Web, can also be prey to abusers who dare cross boundaries and use the secrecy and anonymity of the Web to their advantage. Laws have long since been enacted in order to keep children safe from the dangers that await when they are not vigilant enough, and major police organizations have been working across country boundaries in order to better coordinate efforts at catching cyber criminals and child abusers who use the cloak of the Internet to run and hide and keep on wreaking havoc.

Organizations all over the world have also started compiling information on cases that are in courts and that involve child pornography. Such cases can also be read about online, such as through Cyber Rights, where parents can be better informed about what cases are still being judged, what cases have been solved, and what new dangers await their children online if these parents are not able to monitor their children’s activities well enough. If you are afraid of exposing your child to the Internet, but if you think that it is a resource that your child cannot do without, then monitor your child’s work more closely. Exhort your child to talk to you about his or her online activities. Encourage your children to stay away from forums and chat rooms for the meantime, and while they are not old enough to understand the adult dynamics of such places.

The boundaries that delineate the use of child pornography, however, can blur depending on how lawyers and defendants define their intentions. According to an article available through Anorak, celebrities will often claim that they are doing research in order to look at child pornography without being lambasted in the mass media or charged for their doings. For instance, Pete Townsend, a pop star, was said to have paid to look at child pornography in order to do research. Chris Langham, an actor, also took to downloading child pornography in order to better develop a character for which he was doing research. Bernie Ward, a radio talk show host in the United States, and a former Catholic priest, also downloaded child pornography images, but claimed that he was doing research for the book that he was planning to write. The charges against him were then dropped.

The article also mentions that instead of celebrities going into child porn research, they should simply sit down in focus groups and share their findings with each other.

When parents send their children to school, they are led to think that the children are safe and are to be educated.  When things go wrong in supposedly safe places such as schools, worry would start to seep through.  Such could be the case for parents of students in a school in Colorado Springs. 

Recently, a substitute teacher (surprisingly, 73 years of age) has been accused of trying to offer money to a student so that he could have sex with her.  Lloyd Clark is now facing a felony charge because of this alleged child prostitution solicitation.  The arrest happened at the suspect’s home minus any untoward incidents.  Clark was later released when he was bailed out with $10,000.

If, in case, Lloyd Clark is really guilty of what he is being charged for, it is vexing to think that a teacher could actually have such illicit thoughts towards his students.  This would make one think how safe are schools really?  Are the school halls which were set up for establishing futures now have become halls that hide indecent acts?  And how can parents become vigilant against such filthy acts?

There are no rules set on stone on how young students can avoid incidents such as this.    The governments of numerous countries all over the globe have set up programs which aim to protect children and help those who have become victims of any form of exploitation.  Although most governments care, it is not sufficient for parents to depend solely on them.  The most effective weapon is for the parents to teach their children to be constantly wary and to be able to see the tell-tale signs of a possible sex offender.

It is important for parents to communicate regularly with their children.  Although most ‘probable sex offenders’ have a certain look on them or mannerisms, it is still safe not to trust anyone (even an innocent-looking teacher).  Also, remind them that when a teacher (more so a stranger) begins to look at them in a different way or begins to say things that are inappropriate, it is time to raise red flags.  They could tell their parents or the school officials about the teacher’s inappropriate behavior.
 
Saying no—adamantly, the first time and telling people in authority would immediately deflect any more chances of any untoward incident.  Also, it is best for students to carry a pepper spray around with them (just in case the offender gets down and dirty with them).  Parents cannot be with their children 24 hours each day and so it is important for the kids to be well-trained in defending themselves.  Preparedness is a valuable weapon against any form of attacker.

Two men from Arkansas’ Lonoke County have been slapped with charges of felony after two young women reported sexual abuse by the men. According to a news article, detectives say that the thirty-eight year old Jerrel Campbell exhibited himself as he acted out a sexual act before a girl who was only thirteen years old; he tried to make her take part in the act. Campbell is also accused by the state of showing the thirteen year old, as well as an eleven year old girl, pictures that were sexually explicit. Campbell has also been charged with possession of images and files depicting child pornography. This was articulated by Lt. James Kulesa of the Lonoke Sheriff’s Office. 

Detectives of Lonoke County searched the home of Campbell, which is located on Old Austin Road in Lonoke’s Austin. Once there, they were able to seize several compact disks and computers. According to detectives, this raid and its subsequent investigation also led them to William Edward Coble, a forty-five year old acquaintance of Campbell. Coble was also arrested on charges of child pornography possession, after authorities went to his home in Ward and raided it.

The computers of both Campbell and Coble have already been sent to the crime laboratory of Arkansas state, located at Little Rock, for an even more thorough investigation. Coble is in custody at the Lonoke County jail in replacement of a bond of $15,000, while Campbell has posted bond. According to Kulesa, however, the girls who had reported the crime were not part of the child pornography collection of the men.

This is only one case of child pornography in a world where efforts are being improved in order to better protect children from different forms of exploitation. On websites such as Cyber Rights, organizations aim to better communicate the dangers that children face everyday, and especially from the Internet. Because of the secrecy and anonymity inherent in the design of the World Wide Web, it can be much easier to ensnare children and abuse them; such dangers have become the subject of laws and debate, and have made law enforcement officers all the more worried about how they can work together, even across borders, in order to better shield children.

There are many different ways that children can be exploited online, so if you are worried as the parent of children who like using the Internet, then you can start instructing them on how to protect themselves. Encourage them to report to you if they sense that they are being harassed, and encourage your children to keep away from forums and chat rooms that can be dangerous ground for knowing people.

As the Internet arena grows even wider and more diverse, it can only better house abuse and secrets that can be dangerous to people of all ages. Children are especially vulnerable prey, as many children like to surf online without taking so much notice of the people that they encounter. It is for this reason that organizations all over the world are increasing efforts at protecting children from predators online. Police groups all over the world are also working together in order to catch sexual predators and keep children better protected. Moreover, major groups build homes online, such as through Cyber Rights, where they are able to show what cases on child pornography have been resolved, and what cases are still pending.

Moreover, corporations have decided to join in the battle against online exploitation of children. According to an article, the AT&T foundation will be donating about a million dollars to the University of Central Oklahoma in order to improve the university’s Forensic Science Institute, which the academic institution plans to complete in August of 2009. Moreover, the AT&T Foundation will include a Digital Evidence and Cyber Security Lab in this Institute in order to start up better efforts to curb online exploitation of children.

The million-dollar grant will be given to the academic institution in installments of $ 250,000 for the next four years. The money will be used to buy advanced forensics equipment and software, lab stations enough for eight examiners, and other equipment that can lead to a better digital laboratory. According to W. Roger Webb, president of the University of Central Oklahoma, cyber crime has already “taken crime to the next level” as more and more people use digital media for their own nefarious ends; such abuse can include stalking, hacking, terrorism, and child exploitation. Webb also sees how the laboratory will be able to serve local law enforcement agencies, as well as those at the federal and state levels.

The lab, according to the article, will also allow law enforcement agencies to work in concert, with an approach that resembles that of a task force. Digital evidence can be taken from computers, cellular phones, and even pike passes. The laboratory can do this lifting, and can even allow law enforcement officers to find hidden evidence. The Oklahoma City and Edmond Police Departments, as well as other related agencies, are expressing interest in having some of their employees work full time in the laboratory once it is completed.

Former minister of New South Wales, Australia Milton Orkopoulos was recently accused of over thirty child sex offences and drug offences, but his trial has been postponed recently. The former minister, who is nearing fifty, has not shown any emotion recently as he has made his way to his trials. According to reports, Orkopoulos’ defense team has found more documents that could contribute to his case, and they therefore need more time to review them. The prosecutors had no problem with the request of the defense, and the request for a delay was thus granted.

According to reports, the charges versus Orkopoulos stretch out for over a decade, and span the years between 1995 and 2006. included in the charges are about seventeen charges child sex offenses, which were purportedly directed against young boys whose ages ranged from ten to eighteen. Orkopoulos has also been charged with possession of child pornography. Aside from these charges, Orkopoulos has also been charged with fifteen counts of supplying the illegal drug cannabis, and four counts of supporting another illegal drug, heroin. Bail has still been continued for the former minister.

Many people all over the world have been charged with offenses against children, as well as with child abuse. Child abuse, moreover, need not be direct and physical; mere downloading of images and videos of child abuse and child pornography, and possession of such images and videos, can entail jail time and large amounts of bail if a person is caught and charged. International police have also been up on their efforts to nail perpetrating parties and people who create and/or pass around such images and videos on the Internet. In fact, many police organizations all around the world are uniting across borders in order to curb the problem.

Organizations, moreover, have also come together, especially online, to raise awareness on the problem of child abuse. In fact, some websites like Cyber Rights document cases of child abuse that have been resolved, or that are still at the courts, in order to keep parents informed about the dangers that children can face on the Internet. To date, thousands upon thousands of cases have been brought to the fore, and are awaiting trial. In fact, efforts have been upped even at airports, where high risk passengers are taken aside so that inspection can be more thorough and stringent. Inspection can include opening baggage and searching through the data on laptop computers.

Ng Kok Yauw, a pilot of Singapore Airlines, was not immune to any searchers at an airport in Adelaide, Australia. He had already been marked by officers of Australian customs as a high-risk person, and was likewise marked as one who would have to undergo a good deal of customs checks, and more than other passengers. When customs officers searched through his laptop, they found what they had anticipated: child pornography. Captain Ng pleaded guilty, and was tasked to pay A$12,000 ($15,350) by local courts recently.

According to the captain, who is the father of two children, he had simply done his downloading because of curiosity. This is the second case reported in Australia of a pilot who is fined for child pornography activities. According to the Australian Customs Service, all passengers coming into Australia are assessed according to risk even before they arrive; the risk assessment includes looking into records of airline crew. The spokesman for the Australian Customs Service, however, did not provide any information on how the Service performs its risk assessment, and they moreover denied that they had arrested Captain Ng on the basis of a tip off.

The case has caused confusion, not to mention concern, among other members of flight crews around the world, who have also taken to posting their thoughts on the online forum PPrune, or the Professional Pilots Rumour Network. Some pilots support the move to have even laptops check, but others are worried that immigration officers may abuse their power and will not know when to draw the line between respecting privacy and conducting searches. According to some parties, however, opening laptops and checking for information is very rare.

Child pornography is a major issue in Australia, where the Australian Federal Police has set up a special division devoted to investigating cases of child pornography and protecting children from online exploitation. The Online Child Sex Exploitation Team regularly investigates offenses against child pornography laws. People coming into Australia can bring in their laptop or desktop computers into the country, and duty-free, but they must also take these items with them when they leave.

Britain is likewise on the alert, as is the United States. Many online sites such as  document the histories of child abuse cases with the hope that people will be more aware about what they are battling against. Indeed, police all over the world are acting to work against this crime, and many police groups are coordinating across country borders in order to strengthen their efforts.

Singer R Kelly has another controversy added to his name.  Just recently, he has been accused of getting intimate with his publicist’s stepdaughter.  This is the reason why Regina Daniels (R Kelly’s publicist) decided to bail herself out of the singer’s payroll. 

George Daniels (the publicist’s husband) has been discussing with an LA radio station the sex tape that has been reported where Kelly was shown with a young girl and the two being engaged on sexual intercourse.  Mr. Daniels reported, though, that R Kelly did not go to that extreme with his daughter but he did become associated with Maxine Daniels.  Mr. Daniels stated further that his daughter confessed everything to him but when he confronted R Kelly, the singer denied all that Maxine said.  

The other side to the story according to the singer’s released statement is that he was actually persuaded to become closer to his publicist’s stepdaughter.  R Kelly’s spokesman read on the statement that the singer was even invited by Regina Daniels to attend Maxine’s 21st birthday party. 

R Kelly’s spokesman also stated that it was even Regina Daniels who gave the singer’s private phone number to her stepdaughter.  They also suggested the thought that the allegations against R Kelly started to come out only when Regina Daniels was no longer employed by the singer. 

This isn’t the first time that R Kelly has been charged with something that implies sexual misconduct.  He has, in fact, other charges (unrelated to the present controversy with Daniel’s stepdaughter) of 14 counts of child pornography.  The shocking thing about this is that R Kelly has pleaded guilty to these charges. 
 
It is sad to know that famous personalities can even become perpetrators of such indecent acts.  Child pornography is such an act of filth that the sane community should not condone.  Many governments all over the world are working with their citizens to put a stop or at least to minimize child pornography.  They also extend their helping hand to the unfortunate victims of this act. 

Most child porn websites are based in the US according to some reports and it is alarming that their number is constantly growing.  And yet, with the proliferation of child porn sites, the minimum sentence could be as low as five or ten years (with the sentence depending on many factors such as the perpetrator’s age).  It is important to join hands with anti-child pornography programs to protect the future of these innocent children. 

Looking back at R Kelly’s case, it could have been good if the scenario was at the other end of the spectrum where he is a good example to children and teenagers (who happen to idolize him) rather than seeing him admit to all the child porn charges.  Celebrities should learn an important lesson here—that being famous is coupled with responsibility to their audience.

Pictures do speak a thousand words but for a 58-year-old man in Brisbane, Australia, it only meant two words: court time and quite possibly, jail time.  According to Sgt. Kerrilee Lovaszy, a police prosecutor, the man had taken photographs of two young girls, one a 12-year-old and the other, an 11-year-old, using his mobile phone.  He later transferred the images to his home computer.

The images that led to his arrest were photos of the girls’ breasts.  The man, a truck driver, offered to pay $2 for every photo he took.  He was later charged with indecent treatment of minors and will be facing 3 counts for actively soliciting and creating material showing child exploitation.

The Court Magistrate granted the man bail provided he refrained from getting in touch with the girls and their family.

Protecting minors

Possession of photographs showing young children and minors in sexually suggestive poses is considered a felony.  In fact, even minors found in possession of these types of images will be in big trouble.  In Florida, for example, a 16-year-old girl and her 17-year-old boyfriend took photographs of themselves performing sexual acts to each other.  They were later prosecuted for – what else? – violating laws regarding child pornography.  Although one minor becoming sexually involved with another minor is not considered a crime, documenting the act itself is. 

To help parents and guardians protect their children, there are certain laws that may be relied upon.  The most encompassing are laws that cover child pornography and child exploitation.  To expand these laws further, there are also proposals and moves implemented by government personalities to protect children’s rights.  Senator John McCain, for example, had proposed a bill that makes it mandatory for websites to declare any illegal activities and to remove posts made by child sex offenders. These days, anyone accessing sites showing illicit images of children are required by law to report their activities, even if they are just doing it for research or news.

In the U.S., images of children deemed sexually exploitative also have to pass the courts’ 6-pronged test, as a result of United States v. Dost case.  This is to check whether an image is lascivious or not.  Even clothed images of children cannot protect pedophiles, as proven by the United States v. Knox case.

The concern that the recent Brisbane case presented is not only that the young girls were exposed to child predatory behavior but also that the perpetrator was not a stranger.  He was a friend of the girls’ mother.  This case just proves that attacks on young children can happen from the most unexpected sources and other than continued vigilance of parents, governments should continue to produce laws that adapt as tactics of predators evolve.

A spokesperson for the association of Omaha Public Schools told a news group that the district has decided to remove Gellatly from his post in McMillan.  The process of termination is now being processed by the Human Resources Department.  Gellatly was said to have worked as a part-time employee for Omaha Public Schools for the last few years.  It was only in 2008 that his status became full-time.

Gellatly was said to have been arrested on the morning of February 16, 2008.  He is currently facing charges of receiving and having possession of child pornography.  The German investigators who have been keeping track of him believe that the child porn that Gellatly had were only to be found on his home computer but not on his computer at school.  But, all the same, it is tragic to know that even teachers can become predators to innocent children. 

Child pornography is filth and when a child falls prey to sick minds, his future is sure to be affected.  It is a form of sexual abuse in the law of some countries (whether or not actual sexual intercourse is performed).  The proliferation of child porn remains constant and the victims keep adding to the statistics each year. 

To stop child porn, everyone must begin right at their own homes.  Parents should abstain from the act of viewing such sites and should also encourage their children to stay away from such filth.  To become an advocate, you could also lend a helping hand to government agencies which help in stopping and preventing child pornography.  It is also good to note that some major companies are taking action against employees who view child porn sites on their computers at work. 

This is an ongoing battle and the government, along with its vigilant citizens, should be watchful at all times.  Child pornography remains a crime with a long-term negative effect on the lives of its victims yet the sentences handed down to perpetrators remain minimal.  Some sentences could be as low as ten years which could be pretty low for such a putrid act.  This sad reality could only be countered with vigilance—none else.

Michael Eugene Noel, a former teacher and coach at Clinch School was recently indicted and arrested on alleged sexual misconduct which involved two young males.  He was given charges on federal child pornography and it was handed down to him by a federal grand jury on the 12th of February 2008. 

The two young males that he allegedly had sexual encounters with are both students from the school that he was teaching at and Noel was their basketball coach.  It was said that some of the incidents took place during the team’s sleepover at the suspect’s home in Sullivan County. 

Noel who is 36 years of age was primarily given some charges by the Kingsport Police Department on June 28, 2007 along with alleged sexual battery, solicitation of sexual exploitation of a minor, sexual battery by an authority figure, and attempt to commence on an aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor.  After the arrest, Noel was dismissed by the Hawkins County Board of Education.

Authorities pointed out that the suspect forced a 13-year old to arouse him sexually.  That selfsame 13-year old was then eventually commissioned along with a 15-year old to do some sexual acts with the suspect.  The sad part about this whole story is that Noel admitted to these charges.  A $50,000 bond freed the suspect on the arrest. 

The admission of the suspect to this illicit act is the admission of an educator.  This is an implication of the dangers of child pornography—how it could show up even in the most unexpected places.  And with its growth rate ever on the rise, people who care should always be on guard. 

There are many ways to counter child porn.  One effective way is to begin with one’s own home.  Computers at home should be placed in conspicuous areas where no one would be able to view an ‘unclean thing’.  Also, families could actively participate on any programs against child porn that are supported by the government. 

The world has yet to see a serious law against child pornography (especially on the Internet).  And the sentences handed down have yet to be intensified; and while the world awaits this law which would seriously scare offenders from perpetrating child porn further, all that citizens could do is be constantly vigilant in guarding their own homes and their community from such filth. 

• Apr 28 : Does Mere Research Trespass Online Protection of Children?
• Apr 25 : 73-Year Old Sub Teacher Accused of Wanting to Pay Student for Sex
• Apr 23 : Online Protection of Children: Two Men Charged for Child Porn Involvement, Among Others
• Apr 21 : AT&T Awards Money for Lab for Online Protection of Children
• Apr 18 : Online Protection of Children Delayed: Trial for Ex-Minister Postponed