Florida Child Injury Lawyer Blog

A man who worked in two North Florida School Districts (Duval and Nassau County) was recently indicted on child pornography charges according to a story posted at the Florida Times Union website. Robert Allan Cowan, age 47, worked at Arlington Middle School, Fort Caroline Middle School, and Yulee Primary School. U.S. Attorney A. Brian Albritton reported the indictment which involved two counts of producing child pornography, three counts of receiving child pornography and two counts of possessing child pornography. If the allegations are true, it is quite concerning that a man working in the school system would engage in such activity. Of course, Mr. Cowan will be entitled to defend himself against these criminal allegations. In many cases of this nature, there is a solid trail of forensic computer / online evidence that helps secure a conviction and / or a plea deal.

The case was investigated and coordinated by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Department of Children and Families.

Parents and caregivers should monitor the text messages and e mails of their teen children. Of course, this can be a battle at times due to the typical teen's demand for privacy. In Kissimmee, Florida, a mother became concerned when she saw some text messages to her 13 year old daughter's mobile phone. These text messages eventually lead to the mother's discovery that her 13 year old daughter had sex with a 21 year old man that she met online at www.myspace.com. The mother reported the texts to the police who later arrested the man for lewd and lascivious battery, traveling to meet with a minor, and driving with a suspended license.

Children and teens greatly enjoy the Internet. Unfortunately, children and teens do not appreciate the dangers of online sites like My Space and Facebook. Parents should teach their children about the dangers of predators on the Internet and the fact that they target children. Parents should do their best to keep children off of sites like Facebook and My Space. In the alternative, parents should monitor their children's activities online and on their mobile phones. Make your child be your friend on My Space and Facebook. Set forth restrictions and limitations when your child is online. Make sure that they do not create friendships or liasons from purely online contact. It is well known that a person can be any body he or she wants to be online. You can read more about this Kissimmee story at Orlando Man Arrested Following a Mother's Discovery of Text Messages.

Thousands of reports of abuse coming in on the Florida Department of Children and Families abuse hotline are being rejected or ignored, thanks to a little known new screening practice recently undertaken by the department. Child welfare managers in Broward County, Florida, brought the new screening rules to light during a routine practice review.

The new screening procedures were put into effect to ease the burden on the overwhelmed child welfare system. The Department of Children and Families calls the new practice “necessary triage” that allows them to focus on the most at-risk children. They point to a number of frivolous complaints filed, but reports of abuse, kidnapping, rape, child abuse, neglect and domestic violence are now being routinely being labeled as “unworthy of investigation” as well. A spokesperson for the department said the new rules are a work in progress, which the department will continue to refine.

One of the new policies that was leaked to the press includes a revision of guidelines on what is considered abuse, and includes a directive to reject complaints about signs of a beating unless the child was taken to a doctor or the hospital or was permanently disfigured. This would basically rule out any signs of abuse reported by childcare workers. Child advocates are up in arms over what they call a “dangerous shortcut” that will leave many children at risk. A one year old child, Bryce Barros, has already fallen victim to the new rules; he was beaten to death by a family member even after a Broward County domestic violence judge contacted the hotline on three separate occasions on behalf of the child.

The economic downturn is being blamed for a large part of the problem; stress and loss of income within families has put more children at risk, just as funding for the Department of Children and Families is being cut by the state. An increase in frivolous complaints lodged by child care workers afraid of being prosecuted for failure to report suspected abuse was also cited.

You can learn more about the new screening procedures at Cries for help to DCF hot line go unheeded by design.

In Jacksonville, Florida and cities throughout the country, child predators are unfortunately targeting teenagers and children for sex. Many people would be surprised by the identify and occupation of those who try to take advantage of children. In Jacksonville, Florida, a navy sailor was recently sentenced to a 10 year prison term. According to the FBI Website, Robert William Goodwin was convicted of crimes involving the use of the Internet / chat room to entice a child for sex. At the time of the commission of these crimes, Goodwin was not aware that he was actually chatting online with an undercover investigator with the Florida Attorney General - Child Predator Cyber Unit. When Goodwin arranged for a meeting, he was then arrested for these crimes. You can read more details about this case at Navy Sailor Sentenced to Prison - Used Chat Room to Entice a Minor for Sex.

Fort White man pleads guilty to receiving child porn over the Internet. According to a story posted at the Gainesville Sun website, Kenneth Mathew Tanzosh (age 37) downloaded video to his computer involving pornographic videos of children. Mr. Tanzosh and his computer were tracked by law enforcement authorities through an investigation that began with an investigation by German authorities. Through the investigation, United States agents later raided Tanzosh's home for the computer.

Unfortunately, children continue to be exploited sexually because there is a market out there for pornographic images and videos. People who download the images are guilty of crimes, in part, because these actions help support or promote this industry. You can read more about this story at Fort White Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Possession Charges.

The Orange County, Florida Sheriff’s Office made ten arrests recently, stemming from an investigation into an internet prostitution ring. The investigation took place over several weeks and included individuals in seven Florida counties. One of the alleged prostitutes arrested was a sixteen-year-old girl. She told police that her pimp was holding her five-month-old baby hostage, and that if she did not return to him with the money, he would keep the baby.

Deputies found the baby some time later with the girl’s alleged pimp, in a car in a parking lot at the Wal-Mart on South Kirkman Road in Orlando, Florida. The baby was unharmed; the pimp was arrested. The child has been turned over to the Florida Department of Children and Families, which will determine if the infant should be returned to its mother.

It is sad enough that this young sixteen-year-old girl has become involved in a life of prostitution. But it is sadder still that her infant child has been mixed up in it as well. Children should be cherished and protected, not used as hostages held for ransom. Clearly this young girl is putting her child in harm's way by associating with alleged criminals. It will be interesting to see how the Florida Department of Children handles this matter and what the future holds for the 16 year old and her child.

Find out more about this story at Baby held hostage in prostitution ring.

Last June, law enforcement officers in Polk County Florida arrested 45 men for downloading child pornography from the internet. The rise in arrests was not attributed to the county having a higher than usual child pornographer rate, but rather to the efforts of the Polk County, Florida Sheriff, Grady Judd as well as investigators, detectives, and deputy sherrif officers. Those arrested included a retired teacher, a Sea World employee and 3 Florida high school students.

According to law enforcement officials and child welfare workers, child pornography has become so commonplace on the internet that police departments all over the country could literally spend every day tracking down and arresting offenders. And the internet actually makes it easier to track these criminals down, as they leave an electronic trail of their activities. The fact that Sheriff Judd is willing to expend more time and resources than other agencies has resulted in 176 arrests in the county since 2006.

While exemplary police officers / detectives / sheriffs like Judd are a credit to their profession, the alarming fact is that child pornography has exploded as internet use has made it easier to distribute and buy pornography. Many law enforcement agencies do not put child pornography crimes at center stage the way Judd does, meaning that the vast majority go undiscovered and unpunished. The fact is that if these agencies simply devoted a few more man hours per week to stopping child pornographers using the internet, they could take significantly more of these offenders off the street.

Of course, we are in a recession. As such, law enforcement agencies have been forced to cut budgets, lay off employees, and re-allocate or re-adjust resources. With a decreased budget, it can be quite challenging to devote sufficient resources to combat child pornography and other crimes involving the molestation, assault, or exploitation of children.

You can find out more details on this Polk County, Florida story at Child-porn arrests: `Shooting fish in a barrel’

What happens when you travel over state lines, have sex with a 14 year old, and try to hide under her bed to avoid being caught by a parent? Well in the case of John Barry Coe, you get arrested and sent to prison. Mr. Coe, age 20, was recently sentenced to a term of 87 months (just over 7 years) for his criminal activities in Florida. Mr. Coe, who was released on bond from a case in Montana for similar crimes, met a 14 year old at an online game site. Mr. Coe then travelled to Florida by bus and then took a taxi cab to the child's home. It was reported that at some point in time Mr. Coe had sexual intercourse with the 14 year old girl. Since a 14 year old girl cannot legally give consent to such acts, some child safety advocates may refer to this conduct at child rape regardless of the so called participation of the child. The 14 year old lied to her mother and told her mother that Coe was a 16 year old high school student. When the mother found Coe under a bed, she called police and the true age, identity, and conduct of Mr. Coe was discovered by the mother and law enforcement authorities.

With the Internet and predators like Mr. Coe out there, children are in danger every day even within the confines of their own homes. You can read more about this story at Colorado Man (John Barry Coe) Sentenced to Prison for Crimes Against a Child.

In Florida, adults, who travel to high schools with plans on having sex with underage students, get arrested. The Florida Times Union (Jacksonville) newspaper reported that Obtravies Andre Watkins was arrested and charged with a felony crime. Mr. Watkins and a 16 year old girl exchanged text messages. The child's father contacted police about this matter after he found several text messages on his daughter's phone. Mr. Watkins made arrangements to meet the girl at school where he was ultimately arrested at Flagler (Florida) Palm Coast High School.

Of course, Mr. Watkins will be entitled to a defend himself through a criminal defense attorney. However, it would appear that the evidence on this case in the form of the text messages and his driving to the high school will be hard to overcome.

Furthermore, Mr. Watkins was already a registered sex offender even before this arrest. It seems that Mr. Watkins did not reform himself from his prior crimes even with the knowledge of the consequences of his actions.

Some may argue that the girl was 16 year old and certainly knew what she was doing; however, it is important to note that States like Florida need to set the age limit for sexual intercourse at some age. Teenagers including those at 16 and 17 are vulnerable to the advances of older men and Florida law should protect these children.

The Internet is being used by child predators and sex offenders throughout the United States. One common technique used by child predators is to befriend children online, gain their trust, and then make arrangements to meet the children for sex. Some predators even go as far as to make bus or flight arrangements to travel over State lines to meet up with children for sex.

A Florida man was recently arrested for having sex with a 15 year old Ohio girl. As reported in the Florida Times Union, Nicholas W. Neff, Jr. from Jacksonville, Florida was arrested after police in Cincinnati, Ohio received a tip about the conduct of Mr. Neff and the 15 year old girl in Lincoln Heights. For months prior to the criminal sexual contact / conduct, Mr. Neff had been talking or communicating over the Internet with the girl.

Mr. Neff will be entitled to be represented by a criminal defense attorney. In many jurisdictions, the knowledge of the child's true age is not a defense. Initially, Mr. Neff stated to police that he thought that she was 19 years old but Mr. Neff later admitted to knowing the girl's age prior to a sexual encounter with the girl.

You can read more about this story at Florida Man Arrested in Ohio for Sex with a Teenage Girl.

Robert Sewell Barth once had the honor of being named the Teacher of the Year for Cheney Elementary School. He now will have the distinction of being a convicted felon for his pleading guilty to receipt of child pornography. Investigators previously found 1100 photographic images and 25 videos of child pornography on Barth's computer. This is quite a frightening discovery in light of the fact that Barth was teacher children in the Orange County (Florida) School District. Barth also served as a foster parent for children. Mr. Barth faces a prison term for these crimes that has yet to be determined. From Teacher of the Year to just another deviant was quite a fall from grace for this teacher. Unfortunately, there are many others like Mr. Barth out in the community who are downloading and receiving child pornography. Even scarier is the thought of more teachers like Mr. Barth in the school system. You can read more about this story at Ex Teacher of the Year Pleads Guilty to Receiving Child Pornography.

In Baker County, Florida, a man was recently arrested after he travelled to a Baker County, Florida high school to meet a 17 year old girl. Apparently, the teenage girl and the man befriended each other online and thereafter exchanged e mails and text messages. The man travelled to Jacksonville via Amtrak and then took a cab to meet the girl at the high school. The man, who is in his 20s, has been charged the following crimes: contributing to the delinquency of a minor, obscene communication use of a computer to seduce or solicit a child, and traveling to meet a minor to engage in unlawful sexual conduct.

The internet is a great tool in modern society . . . it is also be misused by men and women to prey on children. Some may argue that the girl was 17 years old and almost an adult for purposes of the law. Yes, that is true; however, what parent wants his or her son / daughter to be solicited online to be picked up by a man, with 7 outstanding warrants, in a taxi cab to run off and have sex and who knows what else. Parents should pay close attention to these stories and talk to their children about those who misuse the internet. Fortunately, the teenage girl in this story is alive and well. Many child victims of predators are abused, molested, and even die at the hands of those who claim to love them. You can read more about this story at Man Arrested at Baker County, Florida High School.

News 4 Jax has reported that a Fernandina Beach, Florida man (David Seaton Teller) has been arrested for possession of child pornography. Apparently, Mr. Teller previously took a polygraph test and admitted during the testing that he had touched a genitals of a Jacksonville, Florida boy in the past. He also admitted to downloading child pornography on his home computer. Further investigation by police lead to the impoundment of the computer and examination of the computer by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Mr. Teller had previously applied to be a law enforcement officer in Nassau County, Florida. It does not appear that Mr. Teller has any future whatsoever in law enforcement. You can read more about this story at Florida Police Recruit Charged with Possession of Child Pornography.

Another criminal has been put behind bars in Florida for possession of child pornography. Clifford Anderson Duncan, age 31, was recently sentenced to five years in federal prison. Mr. Duncan was also ordered to forfeit his computer and to register as a sex offender under Florida and federal laws upon release from prison. Mr. Duncan had numerous child pornography images and videos on his computer. Some materials showed sadistic treatment of children in the images. Investigators in Martin County and Duval County helped secure this conviction through Project Safe Childhood. You can read more about this story at Man Sentenced to Five Years for Possessing Child Pornography on his Computer.

In Florida and other states, possession and / or distribution of child pornography is a crime. Some criminal defendants/suspects are old. Some are young. It is a crime that can be committed by rich, poor, educated, professionals, blue collar, and all walks of life. In Waldo, Florida, 18 year old Travis Brinson Harper was arrested as a part of an investigation conducted by the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Those who break the law are often times unaware of the technology used by law enforcement to track illegal activity on the Internet. You can read more about this story at Waldo, Florida Teen Arrested for Possession of Child Pornography.

Project Safe Childhood, a program initiated through the United States Justice Department, has a mission of protecting children from online exploitation and abuse. Efforts through Project Safe Childhood have led to a guilty plea to child pornography charges by a former Palm Coast, Florida man. David Michael Yorhikane, age 45, pled guilty for charges stemming from his access to a child pornography website with a credit card and his possession on his computer of over 2,500 child pornography images. Mr. Yoshikane's participation and payment of such illegal and immoral images helps keep the sellers of child pornography in business. Mr. Yoshikane faces a prison term of up to 10 years. You can read more about this story at Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Charges.

My Space and Craiglist were two sites used by a Florida man (Christopher Tyrone Young) to befriend a 17 year old girl and then advertise her for prostitution services. News reports indicate that Young knew the age of the 17 year old. He purchased a Greyhound bus ticket for the girl and made all kinds of promises to the girl. Once she arrived in Las Vegas, Young peddled her for prostitution services on the Craigslist website. Christopher Tyrone Young is a sexual and child predator and should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. He knew what he was doing and acted with careless disregard as to the health, safety, and welfare of this teen.

You can read more about this story at Orlando Man Arrested for Prostituting Teen on Craigslist.

In Florida, there have been a number of reported incidents of female teachers have sex with underaged male students. No matter your personal views of these incidents, they are still crimes that should be prosecuted. Teachers are put in a position of trust. Teachers are in place to educate our children - not to have sex with them. Reported and publicized Florida incidents include:

*32 year old teacher (Maria Guzman Hernandez) at Our Lady of Charity School in Hialeah, Florida, who had sexual intercourse with a 15 year old student;

*34 year old Jacksonville, Florida public high school teacher who had sexual intercourse with a 14 year old student;

*32 year old St. Petersburg, Florida teacher who sexted nude photographs of herself to an 8th grade student; and

*45 year old South Daytona, Florida teacher who had sexual intercourse with a student in Daytona Beach area hotels.

Florida is getting headlines but the problem with inappropriate sexual relationships and acts between teachers and students is a problem across the nation. Teachers abuse their positions of trust and selfishly prey on their students. You can read more about these issues at Teacher Sex with Students Incidents and Studies.

Years ago, parents could protect their children from child predators by locking their doors and windows. A child predator could not get into a securely locked home. With technology and the internet, times have changed. Now, child predators and sex offenders now try to contact and lure our children through the internet. In addition to door and window locks, parents should take safety and security measures to make sure that child predators do not contact our children online via e mail, text messaging, social networking sites, gaming sites, and other internet avenues.

The Florida Attorney General Cybercrime website has great resources and information to educate parents and guardians against insidious criminals who creep around the internet looking for victims. It is difficult to keep up with technology and children often times know more than their parents about the computer and internet. Since criminals are educating themselves about the internet, parents should also educate themselves. Go to the Florida Attorney General's Website and some of the links posted and take your best efforts to protect your children.

Child pornography crimes are sometimes committed by members of the same household. In Auburndale, Florida, a woman (Dani Stump) turned in her husband (Roger Stump) and her father in law (Wesley Stump) for possession of child pornography. Dani found child pornography photos and videos on the family computer. Dani contacted the Polk County Sheriff's Office who later seized the computer and arrested the men. Both men were registered sex offenders from prior criminal acts. Dani Stump was faced with a difficult decision in turning in family members. Mrs. Stump chose the safety of children and decency over any family ties in making this important decision. You can read more about this story at Polk County Florida Sheriff's Office Arrests Registered Sex Offenders with Child Pornography on Computer.