Local sex offenders on social media illegally: A Contact 5 investigation
PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. –
“Ok cool, can we make love in the shower?” “Can we use cooking oil for lube? I heard that works too.” “What happens is up to us, we own our own destiny.”
Real messages, sent from middle aged men in Okeechobee and St. Lucie County to police officers posing as 15- year-old girls.
The two are now convicted sex offenders, but still have Facebook profiles.
This comment: “You so sexy I just really want to get to know you better,” was posted on a young girl’s picture, taken off a Fort Pierce man’s Facebook, years after he was convicted of sex battery against a victim under 15.
“The internet is a very attractive place for bad guys to go out and try to victimize people,” says Port St. Lucie Officer Justin Kerns. “The major concern is, there is no cure, for what they’ve done. So it’s always a concern that they’re going to reoffend.”
Florida law doesn’t allow sex offenders and predators on social media, unless they register those accounts, called internet identifiers with the state. Internet identifiers are anything from email addresses, to Facebook, Instagram or Twitter accounts, and even online dating profiles. The minute a new account is created, they have 48 hours to do so.
If they don’t register, “it’s a third degree felony, it’s punishable by up to 5 years in prison.”
Oh boy – first of all are these current posts? It does not sound like it. Also, as you all know FB does not allow RSOs but FL does not stop them after off paper. Furthermore, doesn’t this seem rather convenient while the internet identifier statute is being challenged? I think I smell a rat….
Karen,
Yes, FB does have a policy stating that sex offenders are not supposed to have a profile. HOWEVER, FB is now a publicly traded company, and as such has to follow standards of civil rights laws. This means that they can NOT deny service to someone of their own choosing. This is being fought every day as FB cannot legally deny a registered offender from having a FB account, though they do it every day.
Yes I have wondered about that also Bill.
Sex offenders are not a protected class under tapioca civil rights laws. Denying a sex offender access to business services violates California law. Facebook is a California company and requires all members to subject themselves to California law for dispute resolution. Of course, I would be shocked if California ever enforced that law even for people who live in the state.
Link to the story seems broken (page not found)
It’s on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ct0FHB2kvFo
Textbook definition of “yellow journalism.” Trying to $care up more money to track and harass. One cop states “there’s no cure for what they’ve done.” A former child victim and another cop advocates more and harsher laws.
I saw this the other day. I left a comment on the WPTV facebook page. The Officers comments sounded like he wanted only to terrify the public. $$$
And so let’s punish (Everyone) for on persons actions, Fu*k off!
My case was overturned in 2nd District Court of appeals Case was in 1996. Florida now is trying to say after opening a Face Book account in 2009 that It’s in my name and not my wife’s and didn’t report I had it so want to put me in Prison under a 3rd degree Felony😩 Happily married and started my own business 13 years ago now they want to disrupt our lives again. Please pray for us🙏
Danny – if you can send your case information and county to legal@floridaactioncommittee.org, we’d be interested to follow your case.
Facebook has been a lifeline between our son and us as we live 1100 miles away. He registered it with SPOT so they are well aware of his account that he has had since before all of our lives were turned upside down. He is on probation but not offender probation and the judge just said he couldn’t be on dating or hook up sites. Facebook is not either and he has used it as a way to communicate with us. He is being threatened constantly by his counselor for the offender class that he is going to violate him if he continues to use Facebook. This counselor also keeps making remarks to my son about how he should go to the gym and work out cause he has a nice, strong looking body and if he takes care of himself he can find himself a nice female…. This whole situation is taking its toll on our family and very stressful.
Since he is on probation, you might want to ask his PO if he could switch counselors.
I imagine the only appropriate context where a therapist should tell a client he has a nice body is if he were being treated for body dysmorphic disorder.
I need to know what agency to report suspected sex slavery.
I am very creeped out & my gut says, tell somebody!
My messenger app is not working but I do not want to be targeted.
Patricia – I am not sure to what you are referring and keeping any person from harm is the ultimate goal. I would caution however, that although sometimes gut feelings and being creeped out can be an indicator that something is not right you should be careful and weigh all the options. Make sure that your feelings are based on truth and not what we (society) are led to believe. Once someone is “reported” their lives become a living hell regardless of the outcome. And this applies also to the person thought to be a victim. Also, remember that many times things that our present society indicates are “creepy” really may not be anything at all. Are you in a position to talk to these persons? I would try that first before anything else.
Unfortunately the laws they have for sex offenders have been set aside from other laws. I understand their laws for the Sick Predators that Rome the streets but they will eventually look at each case separately so Society doesn’t all go down the tank🙏🙏