Silent Threat: Online Solicitation of Children for Sex in North CarolinaUnderstanding the Underlying Dangers and the Call for Vigilant Measures
The recent bust of what authorities are calling the "largest child predator sting in Mooresville Police history" has sent shockwaves through Iredell County and across the state. The arrest of 14 child predators underscores a disturbing trend across the state: child exploitation is a silent epidemic lurking in the shadows of even the most unsuspecting neighborhoods. With the details of this operation coming out, we need to shed light on how pervasive this crime is and what lawmakers are doing to confront the problem. In the recent Mooresville bust, the suspects ranged in age from 25 to 78 and were from as far away as Virginia. These men were meeting children for sexual activity aged 13 to 15 years old, authorities said. The accused predators contacted minors through online platforms. Those include ChatApp, Discord, DoubleList, Facebook, FetLife, Grindr, Mega Personal Ad, Skip the Games, and Sniffies. A few days before the Mooresville bust, in neighboring Union County, sheriffs arrested two men who also used social media to solicit children for sex. They used a variety of apps to communicate with children, including Kik, Snapchat, and WhatsApp. Authorities warn that predators can be DoorDashing food to kids at school functions or homes. They can offer to make in-app purchases or buy music downloads for kids. These are all activities children use beyond the watchful eye of parents. A Growing ThreatThe State Bureau of Investigation reported a 589% increase in cyber tips for child sex crimes between 2019 and 2024. The number of registered sex offenders living in North Carolina has also jumped 70% over the past three years. The number of registered sex offenders living in North Carolina has also jumped 70% over the past three years. In 2020, data showed that for every 100K people living in North Carolina, roughly 180 of them are sex offenders, according to safehome.org. In 2023, that number increased to 259 per 100K people. Roundup of Recent NC Child Predator Stings:
Computer solicitation of children in North Carolina is a Class H felony punishable by up to 39 months in prison. However, if the defendant meets the child, it's a Class G felony, punishable by up to 47 months in prison. Those convicted of solicitation of a child by computer will be required to register as a sex offender for up to 10 years. Spot The SignsHere are 5 red flags on child sexual abuse material and examples of how predators often operate to abuse children:
Legislative Action: The Modernizing Sex Crimes Act Targets AI-Enabled Child Exploitation and Enhances Parental ProtectionsIt has become almost conventional for predators to target children through social media apps and video games. Experts and researchers have raised alarms about a new threat: AI, which can generate text and images based on prompts, worsening the online exploitation of children. Experts and researchers have raised alarms about AI, which can generate text and images based on prompts, worsening online exploitation of children. Last year, a child psychiatrist from Charlotte was sentenced to 40 years in prison for sexual exploitation of a minor and for using artificial intelligence (AI) to create child pornography images of minors. Federal prosecutors said Dr. David Tatum engaged in the “depraved practice of using secret recordings of his victims to create illicit images and videos of them.” The General Assembly is now considering a bill addressing this growing problem. The Modernizing Sex Crimes Act will make it illegal to create obscene pictures of a child using AI for extortion. Also, the offense of soliciting a child by computer will be expanded to include communications with their parents. This bill was introduced by Republican Rep. Ted Davis in the House during the last session and passed with bipartisan support. For more information about cyber child exploitation, visit RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization. Sloan’s Substack is free. |