In Luzerne County in Northeast Pennsylvania, a small group of detectives is working to stop men who solicit children online for sex. Several of the men have already pleaded guilty, and, under Pennsylvania and federal law, will be registered as sex offenders. These men come from Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, and other cities in the area.     One man, 34-year-old Glen Lyon resident Stephen Prokop, expressed hesitation but still solicited nude pictures from what he believed to be a 15-year-old boy and asked him to meet. If convicted, he could face up to 25 years in...…     In Luzerne County in Northeast Pennsylvania, a small group of detectives is working to stop men who solicit children online for sex. Several of the men have already pleaded guilty, and, under Pennsylvania and federal law, will be registered as sex offenders. These men come from Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, and other cities in the area.     One man, 34-year-old Glen Lyon resident Stephen Prokop, expressed hesitation but still solicited nude pictures from what he believed to be a 15-year-old boy and asked him to meet. If convicted, he could face up to 25 years in...WW…

      In "Operation Gabbi Doolin," named after a young girl kidnapped and murdered at her brother's school football game, 7 men were arrested after trying to meet someone they thought was a minor for sex. The men, ages 22 to 66, were all from Kentucky and were charged with felonies that carry penalties of 10 years to life. Their names are as follows: Charles Ashley, Jimmy Kwizera, Melvin Dowell, Joseph Zakhari, Jeffrie Corn, Travis Puckett, and Eric Vanhandle.     Kentucky has a long history of catching predators, from Louisville to Highland Heights to...…      In "Operation Gabbi Doolin," named after a young girl kidnapped and murdered at her brother's school football game, 7 men were arrested after trying to meet someone they thought was a minor for sex. The men, ages 22 to 66, were all from Kentucky and were charged with felonies that carry penalties of 10 years to life. Their names are as follows: Charles Ashley, Jimmy Kwizera, Melvin Dowell, Joseph Zakhari, Jeffrie Corn, Travis Puckett, and Eric Vanhandle.     Kentucky has a long history of catching predators, from Louisville to Highland Heights to...WW…

      Just two months after a in Las Vegas made 11 arrests of accused child sex predators, 14 more arrests were made by the LVPD and federal authorities. These men, ranging in age from 24 to 50, are accused of arranging sexual meetings with decoy girls and boys between the ages of 12 and 14. If convicted of the felony charges to which they have pled not guilty, they face possible sentences of life imprisonment. Read more .     151 months. 12 years and seven months. That's how long Josh Duggar can look forward to seeing the inside of a jail cell. The guilty...…      Just two months after a in Las Vegas made 11 arrests of accused child sex predators, 14 more arrests were made by the LVPD and federal authorities. These men, ranging in age from 24 to 50, are accused of arranging sexual meetings with decoy girls and boys between the ages of 12 and 14. If convicted of the felony charges to which they have pled not guilty, they face possible sentences of life imprisonment. Read more .     151 months. 12 years and seven months. That's how long Josh Duggar can look forward to seeing the inside of a jail cell. The guilty...WW…

      11 men were arrested in a two-day sting conducted by the FBI and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Taking a gamble in Vegas, these men lost quite miserably. Child molestation is a class A felony in Nevada, and attempted crimes are sentenced equally as harshly as the actual crime in many states. Already facing life in prison, the fact that these men were arrested by federal authorities only makes their situation more serious.     All came for what they believed was a 13-year-old girl. Their ages ranged from 27 to 55. The most notable was...…      11 men were arrested in a two-day sting conducted by the FBI and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Taking a gamble in Vegas, these men lost quite miserably. Child molestation is a class A felony in Nevada, and attempted crimes are sentenced equally as harshly as the actual crime in many states. Already facing life in prison, the fact that these men were arrested by federal authorities only makes their situation more serious.     All came for what they believed was a 13-year-old girl. Their ages ranged from 27 to 55. The most notable was...WW…

     Online solicitation of children is a real problem, with an estimated 750,000 sexual predators on the internet at any given time. Luckily, there are states who are not content to sit idly by and wait for children to become victims. The 9 I especially admire are listed below, in no particular order.     1. Florida: The Florida Sheriffs Association has launched its own program statewide to catch sexual predators, and over the years countless hundreds of people have been arrested and charged with felonies. Many of the men convicted were sentenced to a number...…     Online solicitation of children is a real problem, with an estimated 750,000 sexual predators on the internet at any given time. Luckily, there are states who are not content to sit idly by and wait for children to become victims. The 9 I especially admire are listed below, in no particular order.     1. Florida: The Florida Sheriffs Association has launched its own program statewide to catch sexual predators, and over the years countless hundreds of people have been arrested and charged with felonies. Many of the men convicted were sentenced to a number...WW…

     A Rapid City man was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison followed by five years probation and lifetime registration as a sex offender; he will not be eligible for release until 2034, as federal prisoners are required to serve a minimum of 85 percent of their sentences. Jonathan Andrew Whitney was busted in 2019 by federal authorities conducting a sting to coincide with the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. He thought he was soliciting a 15-year-old girl, but was instead greeted by agents.     Carlocito Slim, an Arizona man busted in the 2017 Sturgis Motorcycle...…     A Rapid City man was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison followed by five years probation and lifetime registration as a sex offender; he will not be eligible for release until 2034, as federal prisoners are required to serve a minimum of 85 percent of their sentences. Jonathan Andrew Whitney was busted in 2019 by federal authorities conducting a sting to coincide with the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. He thought he was soliciting a 15-year-old girl, but was instead greeted by agents.     Carlocito Slim, an Arizona man busted in the 2017 Sturgis Motorcycle...WW…

     Kristen's Law would have saved lives. The sheriffs, police chiefs, and prosecutors who are sworn to protect citizens failed to do so because it would have meant extra work, or so they thought. Not only were they incorrect, but their failure demonstrates precisely the flaws in a system that values protecting criminals over potential victims.     in Ohio way back in 2007, this controversial law was named after Kristen Jackson, a 14-year-old who had been dismembered and murdered by a sex offender in 2002. She was lured into his vehicle at a fair and suffered...…     Kristen's Law would have saved lives. The sheriffs, police chiefs, and prosecutors who are sworn to protect citizens failed to do so because it would have meant extra work, or so they thought. Not only were they incorrect, but their failure demonstrates precisely the flaws in a system that values protecting criminals over potential victims.     in Ohio way back in 2007, this controversial law was named after Kristen Jackson, a 14-year-old who had been dismembered and murdered by a sex offender in 2002. She was lured into his vehicle at a fair and suffered...WW…

     38 men and women were arrested as part of a weeklong effort targeting sex predators in Tallahassee. Of these arrests, 28 came from violation of terms stemming from existing offenders, including probation violation, failure to register as a sex offender, and failing to report new vehicles and online accounts that could be used to commit future crimes.     10 new arrests were made for online solicitation of minors and for child pornography:     1. Eddie Kemp is an EMS captain and coach who traveled to meet a minor for sex.   ...…     38 men and women were arrested as part of a weeklong effort targeting sex predators in Tallahassee. Of these arrests, 28 came from violation of terms stemming from existing offenders, including probation violation, failure to register as a sex offender, and failing to report new vehicles and online accounts that could be used to commit future crimes.     10 new arrests were made for online solicitation of minors and for child pornography:     1. Eddie Kemp is an EMS captain and coach who traveled to meet a minor for sex.   ...WW…

     Mike Vestal learned what "kinda big" really meant in 2008 when he was convicted and sentenced to 3 months in jail, 3 years probation, and lifetime RSO status. He moved to Belize with his wife of 20 years, but he was forced to relocate to Guatemala after the government learned of his conviction. He became a father in 2017, and he currently lives in La Antigua, where he runs an online coaching business and works as an English teacher.     Manuel Uson was convicted in 2007 and sentenced to 3 months in jail and lifetime registration as a sex offender. He was...…     Mike Vestal learned what "kinda big" really meant in 2008 when he was convicted and sentenced to 3 months in jail, 3 years probation, and lifetime RSO status. He moved to Belize with his wife of 20 years, but he was forced to relocate to Guatemala after the government learned of his conviction. He became a father in 2017, and he currently lives in La Antigua, where he runs an online coaching business and works as an English teacher.     Manuel Uson was convicted in 2007 and sentenced to 3 months in jail and lifetime registration as a sex offender. He was...WW…

      The Lafayette County Sheriff's Office has arrested three men-- Cory Ballentine, Johnathan Woolbright, and Ethan Moses-- in just under a week and charged them with solicitation of a minor, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.      The coronavirus pandemic has caused a spike in child solicitation, and, as a result, the stings here have begun in earnest, as well. In , 23 men between the ages of 23 of 59 were arrested and charged with felonies in a sting in Hernando, and more operations are expected in the coming weeks and months. ...…      The Lafayette County Sheriff's Office has arrested three men-- Cory Ballentine, Johnathan Woolbright, and Ethan Moses-- in just under a week and charged them with solicitation of a minor, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.      The coronavirus pandemic has caused a spike in child solicitation, and, as a result, the stings here have begun in earnest, as well. In , 23 men between the ages of 23 of 59 were arrested and charged with felonies in a sting in Hernando, and more operations are expected in the coming weeks and months. ...WW…