March 9, 2011
On Wednesday, March 2, 2011, Dr. Jay Thompson of La Mesa Rotary Club presented Innocent Justice‘s President & CEO, Heather Steele with a Paul Harris Fellow Award, in appreciation of tangible and significant assistance given for the futherance of better understanding and friendly relations among peoples of the world.
As part of Innocent Justice’s educational outreach campaign, Ms. Steele presents a one-hour workshop on the true nature of child pornography to various community organizations around San Diego County, including the La Mesa Rotary Club.
Paul Harris Fellow recognition was created in memory of Paul Harris, the founder of Rotary as a way to show appreciation for contributions to the Foundation’s charitable and educational program. A Paul Harris Fellow is an individual who contributes $1,000 or in whose name that amount is contributed. Every Paul Harris Fellow receives a pin, medallion and a certificate when he or she becomes a Fellow. This identifies the Paul Harris Fellow as an advocate of the Foundation’s goals of world peace and international understanding.
If you would be interested in having this presentation at your local community group, please contact us at (760) 944-1640 or via email at info@innocentjustice.org.
March 8, 2011
William McArthur Myeres, a 45-year-old St. Petersburg man arrested on charges of possession and distribution of child porography, is now accused of sexually battering two young boys over a period of several years, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities said Myers knew both boys, who also knew each other, and abused one boy multiple times between 2003 and 2009 – from age 5 to 11; the other child victim, now 12, was abused at age 8.
In February, the 13-year old boy told a friend about the abuse, who then told an adult who contacted the Sheriff’s Office Crimes Against Children Unit. During the investigation, detectives learned that the suspect had been arrested by the FBI on child pornography charges.
Investigators ask that anyone with information regarding potential victims contact Detective Peter Doyle of the Crimes Against Children Unit at (727) 582-6200.
An investigation by the San Diego Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force catches Thomas Henry Ceglarek, 53, a San Diego elementary school counselor for possessing child pornography on two computers. He now also faces charges of perjury for lying on his application to get a court-appointed attorney.
Ceglarek signed a financial affidavit claiming he was unemployed, had not received any income in the past 12 months, and requested a court appointed attorney at the government’s expense. The truth was that he was still employed by the San Diego Unified School District and making about $70,000 per year, prosecutors said.
Ceglarek is scheduled to be sentenced May 24 by U.S. District Judge M. James Lorenz.
March 7, 2011
Michael Hanson, 29, of Portsmouth, NH, was arrested Friday evening after he jumped out of a window of his wife’s home when officers confronted him, according to police. Hanson was out on bail for child pornography-related charges, and was wanted for a new alleged sexual assault on a 4-year old girl.
“While police were going in the front door, he was jumping out the back,” said Sgt. Christopher Roth.
Even more disturbing, police said that also in the home with his wife, Rachel Hanson, was a 3-year-old girl, which was a violation of his bail conditions. Last year, Portsmouth police responded to a domestic violence incident at the Hanson’s home and Mrs. Hanson told police her husband downloaded child pornography on his computer, which led to his indictment on 6 felony counts of possession of child pornography.
Hanson’s bail conditions on those charges barred him from having contact with his wife and with children, according to Sgt. Roth.
A warrant for Hanson’s arrest was issued Friday, after the father of a 4-year old girl in the town of Berlin identified Hanson as the alleged assailant and said the man had previously stayed at his home. Portsmouth police searched for him in the downtown area before finding him at his wife’s mobile home.
Prosecutors will ask that he be held on no bail or very high cash bail.
Portsmouth police also arrested Rachel Hanson on Friday after she allegedly admitted she knew her husband was not supposed to be at her home or in the company of a child. She will be arraigned on April 4 on a charge of endangering the welfare of a child, according to police.
Richard Shaffer, 23, of Louisa County, Virginia, was sentenced by Judge Richard Allen Cullen on Friday of 15 counts of possession of child pornography and one count of aggravated sexual battery of a toddler to 50 years with all but 10 suspended.
Shaffer’s internet service provider forwarded a cybertip to the SOVA Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force “ICAC” that a computer from his resicence attempted to send an image of child pornography via e-mail. Auth0rities identified the image sent from Shaffer’s computer and Detective Patrick Siewert of the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office seized the computer. Detectives performed a forensic examination of the computer where they found numerous images documenting the abuse of toddlers and prepubescent children engaged in sex acts with adult males. The cybertip about Shaffer’s computer made it believable when a toddler disclosed sexual abuse.
At the sentencing hearing Deputy Commonwealth Attorney Rusty McGuire argued “the ICAC investigation saved this child from a lifetime of abuse. Without the cybertip, I am not sure others would have believed the child was actually abused. Children under six are the most vulnerable in our system because it is difficult for adults to believe the allegations and courts to accept their testimony. This case is a victory for our children. While a toddler could not have testified in court we still obtained a conviction based on the work of the ICAC task force.”
According to a 2006 study in Butner Federal Prison, North Carolina’s sex offender treatment program, over 85% of child pornography possessors admit to having child sexual abuse victims.
March 2, 2011
On Monday, Detective Tim Brady, representing the Fraternal Order of Police, briefed Idaho lawmakers on the growing crisis of Internet crimes against children. “In 2003, it’s estimated that there were 3,600 images of child pornography. Only two years later, there were 6.5 million,” said Brady, estimating 60,000 new images hit the web every month.
The message was clear - the proliferation of child sexual abuse and torture images is growing faster than the resources to combat the problem.
Brady told lawmakers that he and his colleagues would soon be on the Capitol’s doorstep in an effort to update many of Idaho’s current laws. “Current laws on enticement don’t include scenarios where children are enticed via text,” said Brady. “The laws don’t even refer to enticement via cell phone.”
Brady also told lawmakers that he’ll be coming to them in 2012 for more money.
“The state of Idaho has no one solely dedicated to investigating Internet crimes against children,” said Brady. “Training is expensive. So is technology. Our equipment is constantly outdated and predators are constantly outpacing us.”
Some of the disturbing realities Brady shared were estimates that 20 percent of pornography involves children, with 55 percent manufactured and sold here in the United States, generating an estimated $3 billion in annual sales.
“If what I’m telling you is disturbing, prepare yourself,” Brady warned legislators. “Our records indicate that 39 percent of all child pornography involves 3 to 5 year olds. Worse yet, 19 percent involves infants and toddlers under the age of 3.”
Without increased funding, the task force can only arrest and prosecute about 1 percent of child pornographers that they fear are operating in Idaho. “There’s no reason that these people who purvey in porn shouldn’t be paying for what they’ve done,” said Brady. “And I mean literally paying. Of course these people need to go to prison, but why can’t we insist on strong restitution fines? They should pay for all of the overtime and technology needed to catch them. And if you allow us to assess the fines, the money should go into a dedicated fund to combat Internet crimes against children.”
It’s estimated that more than 100,000 websites traffic child pornography. Rest aassured, Idaho lawmakers will see Detective Brady this time next year with more statistics and an armful of recommendations for better funding and tougher laws.
March 1, 2011
The N.H. Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, commanded by Det. Corey MacDonald of the Portsmouth Police Department, recently appointed a Case Review Committee in an effort to crack down on Internet child exploitation.
The committee, comprised of volunteers from state, local and county law enforcement agencies, as well as the U.S. district attorney and the NH attorney general, will provide policy guidance to the task force and make recommendations regarding prosecution and sentencing in state and federal cases.
In a press release, Commander MacDonald said he hopes the committee will help raise public awareness about Internet offenses and efforts to combat them. He said increased awareness should serve as a deterrent to such crimes.
In 2010, the N.H. Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigated more than 180 cases involving the possession, manufacture or distribution of child sexual abuse images.
February 25, 2011
The Central California ICAC (Internet Crimes Against Children) Task Force awarded Tulare Detective Brian Haney the Investigator of the Year Award last week. Haney works with 9 law enforcement agencies in the central California region to investigate predators using the Internet to abuse children.
Haney, a recent addition to the ICAC Task Force two years ago, as he became interested in learning more about the digital forensic analysis skills required to investigate child pornography crimes. These skills include preserving digital evidence and collecting data from cell phones, computers and cameras.
About Haney, the task force commander said, ”For the task force, he’s our go-to guy. You call Brian, and he’s there.”
In the past, The Innocent Justice Foundation has provided high-tech equipment to help the Tulare Police Department with these child pornography investigations. It’s great to see the equipment being put to good use!
February 14, 2011
Michelle Vojir (pictured left), with the Auburn (WA) Police Department, was the lucky winner of a FREE CD/DVD Inspector by InfinaDyne at our Washington State SHIFT Training on Thursday, February 10, 2011!
The InfinaDyne CD/DVD Inspector is professional software for intensive analysis and extraction of data from CDs & DVDs tailored for professionals in data recovery, forensics, and law enforcement. Additionally, the winner received a free book entitled, “CD and DVD Forensics” by Paul Crowley.
The Washington State SHIFT Training, team taught by Sgt. Chuck Arnold, Commander of the San Diego ICAC, and Dr. B. Anne Balboni, Director of the Rhode Island Critical Incident Stress Management Team, Inc., offered professionals who are exposed to child sexual abuse and torture images and who may interact often with child sex offenders (e.g., law enforcement officers, forensic analysts, prosecutors, etc.), the opportunity to learn about the causes and symptoms of the negative effects that may occur as a result of their duties and ways to mitigate them.
Mental health professionals learned about the challenges faced by professionals exposed to child pornography and other operations involving child sex offenders.
For a list of upcoming SHIFT Trainings, please visit www.shiftwellness.org.
February 10, 2011
According to the Los Angeles Times, Brad Ratcliff, 53, a Los Angeles area high school dean & successful prep football coach was arrested earlier this week on child pornography charges. Ratcliff is currently a dean at West Adams Prep in Pico-Union, and has also served as an executive officer of the Los Angeles Football Coaches Association.
A search of his home revealed that he was in possession of numerous child sexual abuse and torture images and videos containing young male victims. There is no evidence at the moment that the images/videos are of current or former students.
At this time, Ratcliff has not been charged in connection with the case, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.
Ratcliff was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation and was released on the day of his arrest on $20,000 bail.
On Wednesday, March 2, 2011, Dr. Jay Thompson of La Mesa Rotary Club presented Innocent Justice‘s President & CEO, Heather Steele with a Paul Harris Fellow Award, in appreciation of tangible and significant assistance given for the futherance of better understanding and friendly relations among peoples of the world.
