AG: Cops Arrest 27 Internet Sex Predators

DETROIT (AP) - Twenty-seven people have been nabbed in an Internet sex sting in Wayne County.


All but one of those arrested is from Michigan. They range in age from 19 to 57.


The Michigan attorney general's office, Wayne County sheriff's office and Van Buren Township police conducted the undercover operation Friday through Sunday.


Agents posing as minors communicated on the Internet with alleged child sex predators. They then began informing them of their location, a decoy home in Wayne County. They arrested people who came to the house and others who drove by.


Authorities also plan to arrest individuals who transmitted sexually explicit material online to agents but didn't travel to the decoy location.


From the attorney general....


MORE THAN TWO DOZEN INTERNET SEX PREDATORS ARRESTED IN STING BY AG COX, WAYNE COUNTY SHERIFF EVANS, AND VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP POLICE


DETROIT -- Attorney General Mike Cox, Wayne County Sheriff Warren Evans and Van Buren Township Police Chief Gerry Champagne today announced that 27 individuals have been arrested as part of a joint proactive Internet Child Predator sting conducted March 7th, 8th and 9th in Wayne County's Van Buren Township.


All but one of the 27 defendants arrested are from Michigan, and all are male, including a physician. They range in age from 19 to 57, the average age being 30. Four individuals arrived via taxi cab, one individual was dropped off by his sister, one biked from Ypsilanti in 15-degree weather and one drove to the decoy home on a flat tire that was shredded by the time of arrival.


In Phase Two of the sting, an additional round of arrests will follow for those individuals who transmitted sexually explicit material online to agents posing as minors but did not travel to the decoy location. Phase Two is expected to arrest as many as, if not more than, the number of individuals arrested in Phase One, bringing the total number of arrests to more than fifty.


"Law enforcement has a clear choice in dealing with the danger of Internet Predators --either react after a child has been subjected to an assault or be proactive and intervene before they can harm a child. For us, this is an easy choice," Cox said. "I also want to single out the Wayne County Sheriff's Office and the Van Buren Township Police for their work and professionalism. They did an outstanding job."


"Even with the level of attention that these kinds of stings attract, the fact that so many men are still lining up to meet children for sex over the Internet should send shock waves through the home of any parent," Sheriff Evans said. "As many predators as we have caught and convicted, it only scratches the surface of what's out there. Parents must take an active role in monitoring what their kids are doing online to keep them from putting themselves at risk."


According to Van Buren Township Director of Public Safety Gerald Champagne, "This successful operation resulted in the arrest of several predators from our local area and surrounding communities. This proactive sting operation was conducted to identify predators willing to travel to our area and warn others that they will be arrested if they prey on our children for sex."


From Friday to Sunday, undercover agents who had been communicating on the Internet with child sexual predators began informing them of their location, a specially prepared decoy home in Wayne County. Predators who arrived at the decoy home, and also those who just drove by, were arrested by police officers from the partnering agencies. They will be prosecuted by the Attorney General's office.


The joint Internet Predator Sting also involved the use of a volunteer non-profit partner known as Perverted Justice to communicate with alleged predators, and a video/audio surveillance company, Investigative Mechanics. Perverted Justice has conducted more than 20 similar sting operations nationwide. All chats comport with the Michigan Rules of Evidence.


A series of steps were taken by all partner agencies to safeguard neighbors both during the operation and after. "We're going after all those who use the dark side of the Internet to target children. And let this be a message to all those who would put children in harm's way – we're watching you," Cox concluded.


A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.


Prior to this weekend's joint sting operation, Cox's Child and Public Protection Unit has arrested 158 Internet Sexual predators. Citizens can also report suspected Internet child predators via the Report internet Abuses Against Children link or by calling the Child and Public Protection Unit at (313) 456-0180.


The Attorney General's Office also created the Michigan Cyber Safety Initiative
(Michigan CSI), an Internet safety education program with customized presentations for kindergarten through eighth-grade students and a community seminar. More than 1,600 presentations have been given to more than 150,000 students to date. For more information or to request a presentation, call 877-765-8388. Go to www.michigan.gov/ag for tips on safe Internet usage for children.

What Will Happen if Far-Left Secular Progressives Achieve Power in America?

By Bill O'Reilly

Mostly overlooked in last Tuesday's vote was Barack Obama's landslide victory in the tiny state of Vermont. As you may know, Vermont used to be a traditional state that has been taken over by hard-left zealots. One of its senators, Bernie Sanders, is a self-proclaimed socialist. The other, Patrick Leahy, is as left wing as they come.

Now you may remember "The Factor" investigated two Vermont judges who gave child molesters very lenient sentences. The nation was shocked that the justice system in Vermont could be so corrupt. But the Vermont media and many politicians there supported the judges.

Now that's what happens when secular progressives gain power. And the SP landscape is rough on the kids in other areas as well.

A new study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration says Vermont has the highest underage drinking problem in the USA. More than 38 percent of minors in Vermont drink. That is an astounding number.

Vermont also leads the USA in marijuana use. Forty-two percent of young adults in Vermont say they have used pot in the last 12 months. By contrast, 19 percent of young adults in conservative Utah use marijuana. So it is obvious that the permissive atmosphere encouraged by secular progressives leads to social problems among young people.

Now all Americans should think about this because in the Democratic Party there are varying degrees of left-wing thought. Obviously, Vermont is extreme left. And "Talking Points" believes that attitude is very harmful to the country.

Liberal thought, however, can be a good thing. Progressive programs to help the poor, fight injustice and give working people a fair shake are all positive. But libertine actions damage a just society because actions have consequences. Kids who drink and take drugs are likely to hurt themselves and others. But obviously, the SPs do not make judgments like that.

Liberal politicians like Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton need to clarify their view of social problems and define what is permissible conduct and what is not. The Democratic voters of Vermont obviously believe that Barack Obama's vision is best, but how close is Obama's vision to their vision? Americans should know that.

Finally, as I've mentioned, I used to go to Vermont as a kid on vacation. It's a great place. But it has now been ruined by left-wing loons who have no perspective, no judgment, and couldn't care less about the greater good. Vermont has now become the most troubled state in the union, and everybody should take a hard look at it.

And that's "The Memo."

Pinheads & Patriots

Pop singer Rihanna recently won a Grammy for her song "Umbrella," but that doesn't compare to this. The singer recently publicized the need for a bone marrow donor for Lisa Flynn, who has leukemia. Well that donor has now been found, and Ms. Flynn will be forever grateful. So Rihanna is a patriot.

On the pinhead front, Madonna is being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but she will not perform at Monday night's dinner. Every other rock person inducted into the Hall of Fame has performed, but Madonna says she's not going to do it, causing some very hard feelings in the land of rock. Now, we've said it before, and we'll say it again: Madonna is a pinhead.

Most wanted Perv #2

Man sentenced for crimes against children

by Andre A. Rodriguez

published March 10, 2008 4:29 pm

WAYNESVILLE – A 34-year-old Waynesville man was sentenced today in Haywood County Superior Court on four felony convictions.

Larry Dean Mintz was convicted in January of two counts of first-degree sexual offense with a child and two counts of taking indecent liberties with a child. Superior Court Judge Mark Powell sentenced Mintz to serve 50-61 years in prison, according to District Attorney Michael Bonfoey's office.

The crimes were committed in 2002. The girls—who were not related to each other or Mintz—were 8 and 10 when Mintz molested them, the District Attorney's office said. The victims did not report the crimes until January 2005. Mintz was arrested in May 2005, but was not tried until this year because he escaped from jail and fled the jurisdiction.

“My assistant district attorneys, Jim Moore and Reid Brown, did an excellent job in trying this cases and obtaining the jury verdicts of guilty,” Bonfoey said in a statement. “Moore and Brown spent many hours preparing the case and working with the young victims in order to present this case to a Haywood county jury and obtain justice for the victims of these terrible crimes.

“I commend the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office and Det. Heidi Van Dine for the excellent investigation of this case. The evidence against Mr. Mintz was stale when she took the first report. Detective Van Dine rolled up her sleeves and went to wok to find all of the facts possible about this crime. Her efforts resulted in an excellent investigation and subsequent conviction. Sexual predators and child molesters need to realize that the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office will aggressively investigate and the District Attorney’s Office will aggressively prosecute these crimes in order to obtain justice for these helpless victims.”

Straight answers change minds

Some critics of a mobile home park for sex offenders are won over by its manager.

By S.I. Rosenbaum, Times Staff Writer
Published March 11, 2008

PALM RIVER - Monday night, for the first time, residents here met with the woman who runs a controversial mobile home park for sex offenders.

Since the existence of the park was first exposed two weeks ago, neighbors had denounced her as an amoral opportunist. Why else would she house child molesters and sex predators?

But after hearing Nancy Morais speak, some said she was not what they were expecting.

Morais walked to the lectern in a room of First Baptist Church, where she had arrived with a bodyguard.

"As a young child I was raped," she began.

Morais spoke about her abuse at the hands of a relative. She talked about how years later, the same man had moved on to new victims.

She said she was trying to keep other children safe.

"I'm on your side," she said. "I don't want anybody to go through that."

She told them about the non-profit program she runs in Pinellas County. Sex offenders live by strict rules and curfews, monitor each other for drug activity, and attend substance abuse and anger management counseling. They sign in and out when they leave the park.

As she talked, the mood of the audience shifted back and forth.

One woman cited the high number of sex offenders already in the area. Why bring in more?

"I know where my six men are," Morais shot back. "Do you know where the 110 around your home are right now?"

A man asked how she could be sure the men wouldn't commit crimes.

Morais shook her head.

"Are there any guarantees in life?" she asked.

At times, residents talked over her, shouted back to her.

But Morais had already won over an important ally: Judy Cornett of Lutz, who runs a nonprofit that identifies sex offenders in communities.

Cornett first alerted Palm River residents to the park at 5015 24th Ave. S, rallying them against Morais. But Monday night she defended Morais.

"We've come to a mutual agreement to work together," she told residents.

She said she and Morais would find another location for the program, somewhere farther from children. In the meantime, she said, Morais would put a fence and gate around the park and a sign warning children away.

"I would rather see sex offenders be supervised by someone than not be supervised," Cornett said. "That's where I get a little bit of peace from this, knowing that someone else is watching them, not just us."

By the meeting's end, some residents had mixed feelings. "I agree with her program. They need help," said Tammy Layton, 39. "But I still fear for my daughters and her friends. What am I supposed to do?"

Others, like Katherine Gadsby, 28, said their view of Morais had changed. "I feel a lot safer knowing she has them under lock and key," Gadsby said.

Veronica Moore, civic association president, agreed. "It's going to be okay," she said. "She's doing a good thing. We have to work with her instead of against her.

Shenandoah University and Women's Shelter Promote Awareness of Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence

Actress, filmmaker and advocate Angela Shelton screens documentary on March 24, leads 'Take Back The Night' rally on March 25

WINCHESTER, Va., March 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Shenandoah University's Department of Women's Studies and The Laurel Center (formerly known as The Shelter for Abused Women) will launch collaborative awareness activities about sexual and domestic abuse with events -- free and open to the public -- on the evenings of March 24 and 25.

Filmmaker, writer, actress and activist Angela Shelton will screen her film, "Searching for Angela Shelton," and answer questions on Monday, March 24, at 6 p.m., at Shenandoah University's Hester Auditorium in Henkel Hall.

Shelton will also be on hand the next evening when the university and The Laurel Center invite community members to be a part of the 10th annual "Take Back The Night" march, on Tuesday, March 25, at 6 p.m., in front of the Smith Library on the SU campus.

Shelton is an outspoken voice for victims of sexual and domestic assault.

The screenwriter of the award-winning movie "Tumbleweeds," Shelton set out in 2001 to document the stories of women across the United States also named Angela Shelton. She discovered more than she anticipated when 70 percent of the women shared stories about being victims of rape, childhood sexual assault and domestic violence. In a twist of fate, the filmmaker met another Angela Shelton who was tracking local sexual predators, including the pedophilic father of filmmaker Angela Shelton.

Shelton's mission become apparent: to inspire and empower all survivors to heal and gain strength and courage to protect themselves and others, particularly children. She launched a grassroots movement of healing for abuse survivors -- both men and women.

"It is so important that we remove the shame from being a victim of violence, and the more and more we speak up about it the closer we are to stopping it," said Dr. Amy Sarch Schopick, director of women's studies at Shenandoah University. "Angela Shelton has rapidly become a nationally known advocate for victims of violence because she brings honesty and even some levity to a dark subject and provides something very important -- tools for healing and prevention."

Candi Bubb, sexual assault prevention coordinator for The Laurel Center, said statistics show one in three women and one in six men will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime.

"Many victims feel shame and embarrassment and don't come forward to receive the help they may need," Bubb said. "The more we talk about these issues, victims and survivors realize that they are not alone and that the abuse wasn't their fault."

SU students, faculty and staff will join community agencies and members to protest violence and crime. Participants should bring a flashlight.

Several students pursuing minors in women's studies are coordinating and promoting the events.

SU's first male women's studies minor, Ahavi Broderick, said he got involved "because sexual assault and violence in our society need to stop."

"Events like this get the word out that we do not tolerate this type of behavior, whether it's a male committing an offense on a woman or vice versa," he said. "We're here to make a change."

Broderick initiated a February event, "Gearing Up for Take Back The Night."

"We had meaningful R&B, hip-hop, rock and alternative songs and poetry that talked about stopping sexual assault and violence," he said.

To get more exposure for the awareness activities, Broderick personally handed out 400 bracelets that said 'Love is Kind, Love is Patient' on campus, taking the opportunity to tell students about the awareness events and why they should participate.

Shenandoah University is a comprehensive Level VI private university with an enrollment of nearly 3,000 students in six schools: the College of Arts & Sciences, Harry F. Byrd, Jr. School of Business, Shenandoah Conservatory, Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy, School of Health Professions (Athletic Training, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physician Assistant Studies, Physical Therapy and Respiratory Care) and School of Education & Human Development. The university offers more than 80 programs of study at the undergraduate, graduate and professional levels. For more information, contact the Public Relations Office at (540) 665-4510 and visit www.su.edu.

The Laurel Center empowers victims of domestic and sexual violence by providing emergency housing, advocacy, support services and education. For more information, call (540) 667-6466 and visit www.shelterforabusedwomen.org.

Website: http://www.shelterforabusedwomen.org/
Website: http://www.su.edu/

Ruling complicates Internet predator bill

By TOM FAHEY
State House Bureau Chief
Tuesday, Mar. 11, 200

CONCORD – A recent New Hampshire Supreme Court ruling complicated the job of passing a law that would mean longer jail terms for Internet sexual predators.

Gov. John Lynch wants tougher laws on Internet solicitation and child pornography to get through the Legislature this year.

"We will not allow sexual predators to hide in the shadows of cyberspace. We must modernize our laws to protect our children from the threats of the 21st Century," Lynch told the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Soliciting sex from a child under 13 over the Internet would carry a maximum prison term of 20 years under Senate Bill 495. Possession of child pornography would bring up to 20 years. Manufacturing child pornography, essentially child sex abuse images, would carry the toughest maximum term of 30 years in prison.

A ruling in a child pornography appeal in January makes it tougher to nail down just what constitutes pornography, and raised questions over how tightly the Supreme Court has tied the state's hands.

In a 2-1 decision, the court ruled that photographer Marshall Zidel did not create child pornography when he used a computer to transfer the faces of his daughter and her friends on women's bodies in graphic adult pornography. The images were created without causing harm to actual children, the two justices ruled. They said the "virtual pornography" was protected by constitutional guarantees of free speech.

Criminal defense lawyer Michael Iacopino, representing the state Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, questioned how the bill could pass review by either the state or U.S. Supreme Court. He also protested the bill's restrictions on how defense lawyers can review evidence. It bars any copies of images or computer files from being transferred to defenders, and requires them to review the evidence at a state facility.

If the bill passes as written, evidence issues will bring a round of court fights in every case before the criminal trial ever begins, he said.

"It's just going to logjam these things more than necessary," Iacopino said.

Kelly Ayotte said the issue of solicitation by sexual predators on the Internet is an important one that should not be pushed aside.

"Every time a detective captures one of these individuals it saves a child, and we should not forget that. They are determined predators," she said.

Lynch has pushed hard to toughen laws on sexual offenders. He worked to pass major reform on child predators in the Child Protection Act two years ago. This year, the House passed a bill that tightens the laws on the sexual offender registry, and the House passed a bill raising the age of a minor from 16 to 18 for child pornography crimes.