Convicting a Predator

It's been a week since I last spoke with you about the trial.   During that

week, everyone's attention, as was my own, was on Hurricane Irma.  

Our thoughts and prayers have been with those who were in it's path.

Life can be stormy at times, yet unlike the weather, we often have

the power to control disruption in our own lives.  After several days of

listening to numerous testimonies, we convicted a man of online

solicitation of a minor.  Following the interruption by Hurricane Harvey,

we returned to court for the punishment phase.  After listening to more

testimony, and then retreating to the jury room for two and one half hours

of deliberation, we delivered a sentence of two years in prison, and the

highest fine we were permitted to impose.

Was it easy to sentence a man to prison for two years?  No, it was not.

Holding the weight of one's future in our hands was not easy, nor was

it pleasant.  Will he contemplate his actions and selfishness while in

prison?  I do not know the answer to that question.  I hope that he does.

As a blogger and a regular participant in a variety of social media platforms,

I am quite familiar with interacting with people whom I have never personally met.

Is there a chance that I might interact online with someone who is not who they

say they are?  Yes, I am sure that there is.   Am I cautious?  Absolutely I am!

The speed and efficiency with which we are able to interact with others 

around the globe is truly amazing.  Yet technology for all it's wonder, is a

double edged sword.  It has the potential to be both helpful and also the

potential to be deadly.  

What I learned as I watched and listened to the defendant and the 

witnesses who testified against him, is that online communications between

individuals unknown to one another, can quickly become quite personal and

can open the door to dangerous encounters.  Young girls, and I imagine

young boys too, can be easily influenced and coerced into a dangerous

game by someone who is older and not well meaning.  What would have

happened if this had not been a sting operation?  What if it truly was

a 14 year old girl responding to a 29 year old man?  If he did meet up

with her in a dark park one night, how would she live with the 

consequences?  Would he have harmed her once he achieved his goal

of taking a young girl's virginity?

Sexual predators have invaded the internet.  As an adult who is concerned for the

safety of children, I believe it is our responsibility to be aware of the dangers the

internet can pose to young kids and teens.  I hope that if you are a parent, 

grandparent or relative of young kids and teens, that you impress upon them the

dangers of communicating with a stranger.  People can and do lie on the internet.

They can be coercive and flirtatious and lure in their prey with compliments and

promises of love and romance.  It is vital that parents and guardians have frank

discussions with kids about the dangers.  Learn who your kids friends are.  

Do what you can to monitor their access to the internet.  You might be convinced

that your small town is not plagued with this problem.  Think again!   This

man lived two hours away in a big city and found what he believed to be a 14

year old girl in a much smaller city where he had never visited.  He was more

than willing to drive the two plus hours to achieve his goal.  

Following the trial, both the prosecuting attorney and the defense attorney

spoke with us.  The Assistant PA told us that she has more of these

types of cases on her desk waiting to be tried.  It is an ongoing battle, yet

I believe that we can and should do what we can to prevent the young from

falling victim to these predators.

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley