The Internet has made it easier than ever for people to be in contact with others around the globe. Unfortunately, not all of that contact is a good thing.
Child pornography is a growing problem nationally and internationally via the Internet.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice Web site:
“Producing child abuse images has now become easy and inexpensive. The technological ease, lack of expense, and anonymity in obtaining and distributing child pornography has resulted in an explosion in the availability, accessibility, and volume of child pornography.”
Two suspects, from different parts of the world, answered for their participation in the possession and distribution of child pornography last Wednesday, September 21, 2011.
An Indiana man was sentenced to 114 months, for dispensing child pornography over the Internet. A press release reported by WLKY.com stated the FBI out of New Jersey found the man, Thomas E Barron of Jeffersonville Indiana, distributing child pornography through the Internet. After obtaining a search warrant, upwards of 76,000 photos and videos of young children involved in explicit sexual acts were found.
While Barron was being sentenced in Indiana, a “daddy daycare” operator in Oshawa,Toronto Canada was arrested for the alleged possession of child pornography, also obtained through the Internet.
The Toronto Sun reported Thursday, Shawn Chaisson, known locally as “Santa Shawn,” (because he portrayed Santa at local malls through the holiday season) was charged with possession of child pornography, two counts of making child pornography available and attempting to access child pornography and accessing child pornography.
“A number of computers were seized,” Det. Randy Norton of the Durham Regional Police said. “A large collection of child pornography was also seized off computer hard drives.”
Norton did go on to say they had no evidence at that time to imply the suspect had harmed the children he dealt with when playing Santa, or those regularly under his care.
The DOJ has announced its strategy, and the “Project Safe Childhood,” which has shown success with its accomplishments in combating the exploitation of children. According to it’s site, they have – specific and hard-hitting goals – with the main concern being the cooperation and collaboration between government and the private sector, and to identify the abused children and rescue them from further harm. These collaborations have resulted in the recent arrests of suspects in New Mexico, Texas, Nevada, Idaho, Missouri, Georgia and internationally.
While the Internet has made the “business” of Child Pornography easier to buy into, it is also proving to be an aid for law enforcement around the world, in the arrest and conviction of those who choose to shop or trade.
