Feds, Sheriff's Department Team Up to Catch Child Predators on Web

Federal and Orange County law enforcement authorities announced today the formation of a task force to combat those who prey on children.

The Orange County Child Exploitation Task Force will include investigators from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Orange County Sheriff's Department and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

The task force will allow county and federal investigators to share information and resources. The task force members will also organize outreach and educational programs to help the public understand the dangers children face on the Internet and elsewhere.

The task force will also track child pornographers, child sex tourists and facilitators and child molesters.

"Protecting the children in our community is among the Orange County Sheriff's Department's highest priorities,'' said Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens.

"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.''

Joseph Macias, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Orange County, said 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.

—City News Service