Sign up now!  Cost is $75 to July 17, $100 from July 18-August 17, and $125 at the door.

Silent auction items include a $750 portrait package from Coast Highway Photography, $580 earrings from Hot Rock Jewelry and much, much more.

Children Rescued from Ongoing Sexual Abuse at Hands of Trusted Family Member
On September 23, 2009, the CyberTipline received a report, a registered Electronic Service Provider (ESP), regarding a user who had reportedly uploaded graphic sexual images of children to their service. In compliance with federal law, the ESP provided incident information, including an e-mail address, screen name, and Internet Protocol (IP) address associated with the suspect.

An Exploited Children Division (ECD) analyst conducted a series of Internet searches in the hopes of determining a possible location for the reported suspect. She was able to locate an online profile that listed a location of Maryland. Based on this information, she forwarded the report to the Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, an OJJDP- funded program, out of the Maryland State Police, for investigation.

An investigation by the Maryland ICAC revealed that the reported email account belonged to an adult male from Hampstead, Maryland. On March 10, 2010, Maryland State Troopers conducted a knock-and-talk at the suspect’s home. Not only did the suspect admit to downloading the images found in the CyberTipline report, but he also handed investigators printed photos of prepubescent males engaged in sexual activity that he had collected. He further turned over two CDs, which, when previewed by investigators, contained additional images of child pornography. When investigators advised the suspect that the residence was seized pending the issuance of a Search and Seizure Warrant, the suspect told them that he had attempted suicide in the past and believed he should do it now. He was immediately placed into protective custody and transported to the local hospital.

During their search of the suspect’s bedroom, Maryland ICAC personnel located a metal box found to contain five pairs of boys underwear. Investigators were alarmed, as they were aware that the suspect has access to several minor nieces and nephews. At this point, Carroll County Child Advocacy Center (CAC) investigators were called to the scene to interview the children’s mother. The next day, the ICAC learned that three of the suspect’s nephews had disclosed long-term sexual abuse by the suspect, dating back four to six years and continuing up to the time the suspect was apprehended. During a subsequent interview with Computer Crimes investigators, the suspect confessed to the sexual molestation of his nephews, along with at least four other boys. He also informed investigators that he had abused other children while on vacation camping and that during these trips, he would convince the children to perform sexual acts and take photographs of the abuse.

After the interview, the suspect was charged with 10 counts of possession of child pornography and 10 counts of distribution of child pornography. These charges will be amended as further evidence is gathered by forensic examiners. In addition, the CAC will be pursuing sexual abuse charges in the near future. In the meantime, the suspect is being held without bond.

We’d like to give a very appreciative Thank You to America Online for their continued support of our vital mission.  AOL’s support, and your support, will help us help police take more bad guys off the street and rescue more kids from a nightmare of abuse.

Cost: $75  until July 17.  After July 17, $100 per person. At the event, $125.

Call 760.585.8873 with any questions.

With reporters in tow, the police also gave onlookers a short peek at the sheer overwhelming volume of child predators locally who are trading images of children being molested via peer-to-peer networks.

To read more about the visit in the New Britain Herald, click here.  But please don’t stop there.  There are law enforcement teams throughout the state of Connecticut who are desperate for access to these basic forensic tools.  In three cities in the state, we have donations or pledges that get us half-way towards a device.  Won’t you please help Hartford, Naugatuck, Norwalk or Stamford get one of the devices so critical to taking child molesters off the streets?  Click here to see what you can do to help.

It’s time we acknowledged our law enforcement officers, who put their lives on the line day in and day out to keep us safe.  They enter into situations where citizens have guns, and suspects may be mentally ill or have taken drugs, putting themselves at risk to make sure other members of the community are not harmed.  For their courage, their dedication and their commitment, they deserve our thanks and respect.

We’d like to offer officers working in Internet Crimes additional gratitude for subjecting themselves to images of American children being raped and tortured, working with nearly no resources, in order to try to save our kids and take some of the overwhelming numbers of child sex predators off the streets.

Thank you so much for what you do every day.

From the staff and volunteers of Innocent Justice.

Although more and more of these offenders are being caught, still only less than 1% are ever brought to justice.  Suttons says, “The battle is far from won. Offenders are now trying to keep under the radar by using peer-to-peer file-sharing software instead.”

You can help American police track child sex predators trading child sex abuse images on peer-to-peer networks.  Click here to support a team.

In Naugatuck, Naugatuck Valley Savings and Loan has pledged $2,500 for a device for Naugatuck.

In Norwalk, the Daphne Seybolt Culpeper Memorial Foundation, Inc. has given a $2,000 check to get Norwalk or Stamford the device they need.

In Hartford, the Knox Foundation has pledged $2,000 towards a device for Hartford.

Bob’s Furniture has given $250 to be used for a device either for Southington or Stamford.

We’re half way there for three devices!  But we need your help to get us all the way.  Please call us if you’d like to help local law enforcement make a big impact in the lives of Connecticut children.

In deepest gratitude,

Heather Steele, President & CEO

760.585.8873

Thank you, Teel Technologies for your commitment to helping law enforcement take child molesters off the streets!