Child Pornography Admissions - Ronald Stevens Pleads Guilty! Comments By Teen Ethics Speaker Chuck Gallagher

It seems that Monday has been the day for several admissions or sentencings for Child Pornography. This one comes out of Pennsylvania where Ronald Stevens, age 42, plead guilty to receiving child pornography by downloading images of child pornography from his computer.

The investigation conducted by the FBI and Pittston Township Police are part of the Justice Department’s Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

As a speaker, I often address groups on issues of teen ethics and safety. More times than not I find that parents - even those who are internet familiar - are not fully connected with how predators use the internet and other media to lure their unsuspecting prey. The unfortunate thing is that many times the damage is done before one becomes aware that the predator is on the prowl. I highly advise groups to become informed about the dangers of sexual predators and how to prevent or deter their efforts. After all, if we can’t become educated about how to protect our children - who will protect them?

Your comments are welcome!

Child Porn - The Internet - A Sheriff’s Deputy and PRISON!

Most people might look at the title and assume the Sherriff’s Deputy was the one who saved the day. WRONG! He was the one guilty. As I’ve said before, Child Pornographers come from all walks of life.

MICHAEL PAUL KENNEDY, 32, pleaded guilty to transporting or shipping child pornography, receipt of child pornography, and possession of child pornography on October 3, 2007. On March 12, 2008, KENNEDY was sentenced to 97 months in federal prison for his choices.

On October 7, 2006, law enforcement officers acting on information received from a federal investigation into on-line child pornography sites, interviewed KENNEDY in Nacogdoches and subsequently took possession of his personal computer. The computer was found to contain over a thousand images of child pornography. At the time of the investigation, KENNEDY was employed as a Lieutenant with the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office. He is no longer employed with the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office.

In February 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. The playground is dramatically different today than when most parents today were reared.

“He (Kennedy) stood up and took responsibility for his actions and apologized to his friends, family and his community,” Heath said. “It’s an unfortunate and tragic thing, and he has recognized that there are absolutely victims even if all you are doing is viewing a picture.

Every choice has a consequence. As a white collar crime and teen ethics speaker, I speak from first hand experience about the truth about consequences. Reality is - no one escapes the consequences of their choices. While Kennedy avoided the consequences for a time - they are not avoided forever. You do reap what you sow.

White Collar Crime Speaker - Chuck Gallagher - signing off…