By Greg Hardesty
The Orange County Register
Federal and Orange County law enforcement authorities have formed a task force to hunt down and arrest child predators in the county.
The Orange County Child Exploitation Task Force, whose formation was announced this week, will include investigators from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Task force members will share information and resources as they go after child pornographers, child sex tourists and facilitators, child molesters and online predators.
“Protecting the children in our community is among the Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s highest priorities,” Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens said in a statement.
“The Orange County Child Exploitation Unit will employ the latest technology to collect evidence and track the activities of individuals and organized groups who sexually exploit children through the use of websites, chat rooms, newsgroups and peer-to-peer trading,” Hutchens added.
“Targeting these sophisticated child predators will help make the Internet a safer environment for our children.”
Task force members also will organize outreach and educational programs.
Joseph Macias, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Orange County, said in a statement that child predators are mistaken if they think they can use technology to hide.
“Some predators mistakenly believe the anonymity of cyberspace shields them from scrutiny - in fact, their use of computers and the Internet have given us new tools in our enforcement efforts to protect children,” Macias said.
First-time offenders can face up to 30 years in prison for possessing, manufacturing and distributing child pornography and for child sex tourism crimes.
Trafficking of children for prostitution carries a possible penalty of life in prison, ICE said.
Copyright 2011 Orange County Register