CALIFORNIA
Los Angeles Times
Veronica Rocha
A monk from Riverside and an Australian man looking to buy a 6-year-old boy were among 238 people arrested during a two-month operation targeting child predators in Southern California, officials said Monday.
Conducted by the Los Angeles Regional Internet Crimes against Children task force, “Operation Broken Heart III” targeted offenders wanted for the sexual exploitation of children, child prostitution, sex tourism and possessing and distributing child pornography, said Deputy Chief Matt Blake of the Los Angeles Police Department.
Among those arrested during sweeps in April and May were entertainers, community leaders, white-collar professionals and clergy members, said John Reynolds, acting special agent in charge for U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations.
“The incidence of child sexual exploitation has reached staggering proportions,” he said at a news conference.
Law enforcement officials said the arrests underscore the importance of families maintaining an open dialogue about Internet safety.
“Parents and kids need to have frank conversations about how to stay safe in cyberspace,” Reynolds said.
Children and teens, he said, are spending more time on the Internet and social media sites, where child predators often look for victims.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.