CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas —
After finding concerning messages on their child’s phone, an Orange Grove parent helped catch an online predator by calling a police department in Tennessee where the man lived.
According to a report from Local 3 News in Chattanooga, Tennessee, a 27-year-old man was arrested after he was messaging an 8-year-old in Orange Grove on Snapchat and X-Box since last August.
An investigation led to the charges of three counts of solicitation of a minor and 12 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.
Ashley Arevalo, the marketing and outreach specialist for the Children’s Advocacy Center of the Coastal Bend said it is important to communicate with kids about what dangers are online, such as with games, apps and other technology.
“The internet is so widespread,” Arevalo said. “We have access to it, like, in our, the palm of our hand, to tablets. They're using the internet at school. So, it's really just everywhere and that can be scary."
The CACCB provides free therapy, counseling and sees many cases where kids become victims and it all started on the internet.
Jim Wells County Sheriff, Danny Bueno said it is important to report online predatory behavior immediately.
"Predators are out there,” Bueno said. “They take advantage and they lure our children into becoming involved in this type of criminal or negative behavior and it can offend them for the rest of their lives."
He said that parents should monitor who their child is talking to online.
"Be aware of what your kid's doing,” Bueno said. “It's important again to remember that, you know, you're the one that pays the phone bills. So, find out who they're contacting, who they're communicating with."
Children that are abuse victims can find help at the Children’s Advocacy Center of the Coastal Bend.
Arevalo offers advice for parents to limit risks of online predators including using privacy settings for online gaming/social media profiles, never giving out personal information and limiting headphone use while gaming.
"That way you can see and monitor what the child is saying or what is being said to them,” Arevalo said. “Also, having, like, an allotted time that the child can play a game. That way, they don't have access at all hours of the night or day."
Arevalo wants to remind parents that there are signs of grooming to watch out for.
If a child has an expensive gift they can’t explain or if they are secretive about who they are talking to online it could be a reason for concern.
She said it is important that children know they can come to someone trustworthy to explain what is happening free of judgement.
For more information regarding the CACCB, visit their website at coastalbendcac.org.
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