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Local investigation reminder for parents
  
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By Nicole Chillino
In the 21st century, children are exposed to a topic once considered something only adults dealt with.
Last week, the Colorado Springs Police Department announced its Internet crimes against children unit, with the help of other agencies, had arrested 15 men suspected of possessing child pornography and had an additional five to 10 arrests pending as part of its Operation Peerless Summer. Among those arrested was Monument resident Phillip Sheffield, 18.
The suspects were found using software that looks at shared folders in peer-to-peer networks specifically coded with information that allows police to identify it as containing data related to child pornography, said Colorado Springs Police Sgt. Bill Dehart, who is the supervisor of the department’s computer forensics/Internet crimes against children/registered sex offender unit. Using information obtained by the software, the police were able to obtain search warrants.
So how can parents protect their children to falling victim to someone trying to victimize children online?
“I think the most common mistake is to allow your kids to get online and not monitor them,” said El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Inspector John San Agustin. He recommends families put their computer in an open area of their home where they can monitor what sites their children are visiting.
He said many of the victims of Internet predators are kids whose parents had no idea what their children were doing online.
If the child goes on MySpace, for instance, know who they are allowing to view their profile, he said. Also, San Agustin recommends parents become familiar with the language and sites used by children when they are on the computer. Many times the information can be acquired simply by searching on Google.
“Obviously, you never want your kids to give out personal information,” he said. Someone on the Internet can also obtain information about the child’s whereabouts by asking them questions such as where they go to school. A predator can then ask follow up questions that eventually lead them to find the child’s home.
“Always know who you are chatting with,” San Agustin said. “It is so easy to be anonymous [on the Internet].” For example, a 35-year-old man can easily present himself as an 11-year-old girl.
Families with children should also know their kids’ passwords for their computers and cell phones if the devises are password protected, said Lt. Lari Sevene, El Paso County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson. There is a reason the devices are password protected, she said, adding kids are hiding information from their parents.
Sevene recommends parents know what their children’s cell phones are capable of doing.
Parents of kids who can take videos and photos on their phones need to know the snap shots can be sent to anyone and sexual predators can do the same thing, San Agustin said. Sexting, sending nude or semi-nude photos of oneself or someone else to another person, is another issue kids can be confronted with.
The sexting of pictures of a minor can be considered sexual exploitation of children, promotion of obscenity to a minor and unlawful sexual conduct, according to a brochure produced by the sheriff’s office and Safe2Tell.
It is illegal to possess child pornography of any kind, San Agustin said. If one suspects someone is involved with child pornography, he or she needs to contact a local law enforcement agency and allow an officer to take a report and investigate the situation.
Last week, the Colorado Springs Police Department announced its Internet crimes against children unit, with the help of other agencies, had arrested 15 men suspected of possessing child pornography and had an additional five to 10 arrests pending as part of its Operation Peerless Summer. Among those arrested was Monument resident Phillip Sheffield, 18.
The suspects were found using software that looks at shared folders in peer-to-peer networks specifically coded with information that allows police to identify it as containing data related to child pornography, said Colorado Springs Police Sgt. Bill Dehart, who is the supervisor of the department’s computer forensics/Internet crimes against children/registered sex offender unit. Using information obtained by the software, the police were able to obtain search warrants.
So how can parents protect their children to falling victim to someone trying to victimize children online?
“I think the most common mistake is to allow your kids to get online and not monitor them,” said El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Inspector John San Agustin. He recommends families put their computer in an open area of their home where they can monitor what sites their children are visiting.
He said many of the victims of Internet predators are kids whose parents had no idea what their children were doing online.
If the child goes on MySpace, for instance, know who they are allowing to view their profile, he said. Also, San Agustin recommends parents become familiar with the language and sites used by children when they are on the computer. Many times the information can be acquired simply by searching on Google.
“Obviously, you never want your kids to give out personal information,” he said. Someone on the Internet can also obtain information about the child’s whereabouts by asking them questions such as where they go to school. A predator can then ask follow up questions that eventually lead them to find the child’s home.
“Always know who you are chatting with,” San Agustin said. “It is so easy to be anonymous [on the Internet].” For example, a 35-year-old man can easily present himself as an 11-year-old girl.
Families with children should also know their kids’ passwords for their computers and cell phones if the devises are password protected, said Lt. Lari Sevene, El Paso County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson. There is a reason the devices are password protected, she said, adding kids are hiding information from their parents.
Sevene recommends parents know what their children’s cell phones are capable of doing.
Parents of kids who can take videos and photos on their phones need to know the snap shots can be sent to anyone and sexual predators can do the same thing, San Agustin said. Sexting, sending nude or semi-nude photos of oneself or someone else to another person, is another issue kids can be confronted with.
The sexting of pictures of a minor can be considered sexual exploitation of children, promotion of obscenity to a minor and unlawful sexual conduct, according to a brochure produced by the sheriff’s office and Safe2Tell.
It is illegal to possess child pornography of any kind, San Agustin said. If one suspects someone is involved with child pornography, he or she needs to contact a local law enforcement agency and allow an officer to take a report and investigate the situation.
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