Florida gets tough and proactive on finding, and arresting child predators across multiple states.  This was a very successful campaign and it is our hope that other states and law enforcement follow their operation. 

Nearly 30 people are under arrest for child-porn and child-exploitation after a joint federal crackdown.

The arrests stem all over Central Florida and even into other states. It was a joint operation of local, state and federal agents cracking down on those authorities are calling sexual predators. They say these men were preying on children enjoying their summer vacation.

"Kids are going to be out we know people are going to be on the internet," said Brevard County Sheriff Lt. Tod Goodyear. "Lets put something together lets actively go after them."

It was dubbed Operation Safe Summer. It went from late May to the end of July. Finally on Thursday, the last of the 26 so-called predators were under arrest, facing charges of child pornography, traveling to have sex with a minor and other crimes that will likely land them in federal prison.

Brevard County Sheriff Jack Parker was at a news conference announcing the arrests. "The way offenders today are able to migrate across jurisdictions and use computer technology to affect and impact our children who are living in other areas we have to work together," he said.

Standing out in this crowd is a Information Technology worker with Brevard Public Schools, a Lieutenant from the Kentucky State Police, and registered sex offenders. Authorities also say they found thousands of pictures, files, and videos of child porn on their computers.

"Removing these predators from access to children is one of the most important responsibilities we have," said Susan McCormick, a special agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations. They also put possible predators on alert.

"You can not hide, we will find you. we will arrest you and we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law," McCormick said.

This operation was initiated as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide inititative combating child sexual exploitation and abuse.

  My 13 year old girl, Ashley Flores, is missing . She has been missing for now two weeks . Maybe if everyone passes this on, someone will see this child . That is how the girl from Stevens Point was found by circulation of her picture on tv . The internet circulates even overseas, South America , and Canada etc . Please pass this to everyone in your address book . With GOD on her side she will be found . 'I am asking you all, begging you to please forward this email on to anyone and everyone you know, PLEASE . It is still not too late . Please help us . If anyone knows anything, please contact me at: HelpfindAshleyFlores@yahoo.com I am including a picture of her . All prayers are appreciated! ! '

Here is a link to a site that has a list of hoax emails about missing children, it's called the Hoax Slayer – If you get an email claiming that there is a child missing you can check this site to see if it is a possible scam. Some of these scams ask for money to go to charities to help missing children.

There is actually a case filed against a fake company claiming to help find missing children with canisters set all over town requesting donations.  The monies never went anywhere but into the pockets of those that created the scam. If you really do want to help and get involved here is the link to the National Center for Missing Children.  

When making donations to a fund or organization, you should always donate directly to the group that you want to help.  You will get a receipt from a reputable company that you can claim on your taxes. Missing and Exploited children is a real danger.  

There are many ways that you can help protect your children from abduction and to help law enforcement find the child right away.  Fighting these hoaxes is an ongoing problem that takes time away from the real work of real missing children.  You should not "pass on" any emails unless you have checked them for credibility first.

Now there's a free new tool from the FBI that can help. Our just launched Child ID app—the first mobile application created by the FBI—provides a convenient place to electronically store photos and vital information about your children so that it’s literally right at hand if you need it. You can show the pictures and provide physical identifiers such as height and weight to security or police officers on the spot. Using a special tab on the app, you can also quickly and easily e-mail the information to authorities with a few clicks. 

The app also includes tips on keeping children safe as well as specific guidance on what to do in those first few crucial hours after a child goes missing.

We encourage you to share the word about this app with family and friends, especially during upcoming activities in your communities to raise awareness on crime and drug prevention. For its part, the FBI is working to publicize the app with the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA)—its long-time partner in the National Child Identification Program, which provides a physical kit to gather your child’s pictures, fingerprints, personal characteristics, and even DNA to keep with you in case of emergency. The AFCA is producing a public service announcement about the app and will spread the word at various football games during the upcoming season. 

Here is an excerpt from ABC News This morning.

Casey Anthony, acquitted of killing her daughter Caylee, will be released from jail next Wednesday, her attorney told ABC News.

Anthony, 25, was ordered today to remain in jail after Judge Belvin Perry sentenced her to four years in jail and a fine of $4,000 on her conviction of lying to law enforcement officials.

The judge gave her four consecutive jail sentences, but she has already served nearly three years and would get credit for time served as well as good behavior. Perry originally estimated Anthony could be freed in late July or early August, but Anthony's attorney Jose Baez told ABC News that she will be released July 13.

Anthony entered the courtroom with her long hair down, as opposed to the tight ponytails she has been sporting throughout the trial. Visibly relaxed before the sentencing, Anthony chatted with her attorneys, laughed and even winked a few times. As the proceeding began, her demeanor became much more reserved and she looked downcast as the judge read the sentence.

Anthony's attorneys argued that the four counts of lying should be regarded by the court as one continuous criminal act since all of the lies were told on July 16, 2008. They said that there must be a separation of timpe, place or circumstance in order to not invoke double jeopardy. They believed that the four separate counts should be reduced to one conviction.

The prosecution, however, argued that the lies were told during three seperate statements to police over the course of 12 hours. The prosecutor said that each lie was intended to to mislead law enforcement and send them on a "wild goose chase."

Casey Anthony: From Arrest to Sentencing

The judge sided with the prosecution. "As a result of those four seperate and distinct lies, law enforcement expended a great deal of time, energy and manpower looking for young Caylee Marie Anthony," he said.

Perry could have ordered the four sentences served concurrently, or all at the same time. That would likely have allowed Casey Anthony to leave jail.

Casey Anthony Ordered to Stay in Jail

Instead, he took the more punitive route and ordered that they be served consecutively, one after another, totally four years.

Perry said he would need to meet with attorneys for at least an hour today to determine how much time Anthony will serve, based on how much credit she will receive for the three years she has already spent in jail.

On Tuesday, after being acquitted of first-degree murder and all of the top counts against her, Anthony was found guilty of four charges of providing false information to law enforcement. Two of the counts were related to her lies about being employed at Universal Studios, one was about the fictional nanny she claimed had stolen Caylee, and the fourth count was saying she spoke to her daughter on the phone on July 15, a time when Caylee was already dead for a month.

The judge said that all of these lies led police to search for Caylee from July to December 2008. Anthony may be taxed later on for special costs of the investigation.

Spectators lined up all night to get seats for Anthony's final appearance in her murder trial, and if the day of the verdict is any indication, it will be another highly charged crowd.

A protestor at the courthouse today arrived with duct tape and a heart sticker over their mouth.

After the verdict was announced Tuesday, where law enforcement had to rope off the front of the courthouse as all of the key players in the case were expected to exit, bystanders chanted "Appeal, Appeal" and "Justice for Caylee."

Corrections officials in Orlando have said that the "intense, emotional interest" in Anthony's case means they'll take special measures to make sure she's safe.

"I've just followed it from start to finish from seeing all of the tabloids. Just being able to come out here live is totally different than seeing it on TV," said one spectator, who was able to obtain tickets to the sentencing.

Meanwhile, Jose Baez, the unknown lawyer who shot to stardom as the lead defense attorney representing Casey Anthony, spoke with ABC News' Barbara Walters Wednesday about what the soon-to-be-free Anthony can expect once she leaves jail.

"I think Casey could have been anything she wanted in this world, and I think there are still plenty of things that Casey can do in life, and I think Casey can be a productive member of society," Baez said. "So I think she's going to be able to, with a little help and guidance, move on."

There are some looming questions about Casey Anthony's exit from jail, including where she will live and whether she will be safe from the angry legions of spectators who believe she killed her daughter.

Also, a look back at Anthony's jailhouse letters show that she might be planning to have children upon her release. The letters might also provide a glimpse into what Anthony might do with the money some speculate she could make from a book or movie deal.

"I'm thinking of a partial memoir … a way to settle many rumors and to share my insight about love, life and most important –- god," Anthony wrote in one of several letters sent to fellow inmate Robyn Adams between 2008 and 2009, when the two were housed in Orlando County Jail.

Now there is a petition for Caylee's Law .  As quoted in the Los Alamitos Patch an Oklahoma mother of two is the activist to get into law that it is a FELONY to not report a missing child.

'Caylee's Law' Petition Takes Off in Wake of Casey Anthony Verdict

A law proposed by an Oklahoma mother of two would make it a felony to fail to report a child that has gone missing. The grassroots effort has collected more than 150,00 signatures in less than 24 hours.

 

Outrage over the not-guilty verdict in the Casey Anthony murder trial has spurred an Oklahoma mother of two to gather more than 150,000 signatures for a law that would make it a federal crime to fail to report a child missing.

The Cyberbullying Research Center is dedicated to providing up-to-date information about the nature, extent, causes, and consequences of cyberbullying among adolescents.  Cyberbullying can be defined as "willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices."

"Well i always get bullied and i hate it i feel like killing myself sometimes." (13 year-old girl from Victoria, Australia)

We have included some new reports on Electronic Dating Violence: A Guide for Educators and Parents and Cyberbullying Fact Sheet: Cyberbullying and Sexual Orientation.

Summary Fact Sheet - Cyberbullying: Identification, Prevention, and Response. If you only have time to read one of our pages on Cyberbullying to get up-to-speed about the problem and what you can do, read this one!

There have been candle light vigil, national attention from America’s Most Wanted and other News stories and still no solid leads.  Is it possible for a child to disappear without a trace? This is something that it hard for each of us to understand. How does this happen?  Her father wrote this heart wrenching letter to let her know that he is searching for her.

Amber,

Hello my sweetheart, this is Dad. It’s late Friday night and I wanted to write you this letter since you are not here with me. This was supposed to be our weekend together and this afternoon at about the time I should be picking you up from the train station I was thinking about what I could do to talk to you like we would be doing right now. So I decided that tonight I would write you this letter and get it out where you might get a chance to read it.

One of your friends brought over a CD with pictures of you and your friends at their birthday beach party. Some cool pictures of you guys, one is of you running in the water at night by the pier with a cool sunset behind you. It reminds me of our midnight grunion run while camping last summer and all the fun we had that night catching all those darn fish with our hands. I guarantee on our next run, I will catch more than you!!!

Your Teacher Mr. Reyburn is keeping your lamb, ( Nénette ) for you till you get back. You can bet your Mom is looking as hard as she can for you since she will be doing your barn clean-up duties until you return.

This is still my weekend, so I will be waiting to hear from you so I can come get you. Next Friday is the 13th again and it will be a month that you have been away, I don’t want to wait that long before I get my next hug from you. Well, I really just wanted to say we all miss you and love you very much. I hope you get to read this, or better yet I hope you are back in my arms soon, so I can tell you in person. Don’t lose hope in our finding you. I will never lose hope in our search for you.

Always Loving You,

DAD  xoxo

Don’t lose hope, spread this  flyer around, ask your kids if they have seen her or know about her dissappearance, make conversation out of it.  Keep Amber in the top of your mind and we will bring her home safely.  As I wrote before, it doesn’t matter what led to her dissappearance, what matter is she is in danger, she is a child and needs to come home.

I just spoke with Escondido Police Department and “there aren’t any new updates at this time” was all they could tell me.  This is a truly sad story that has caused an outbreak of infighting and bickering between city and county officials,  police departments, the media and many concerned citizens.

It appears that because she is 14 she is of the “runaway” age, especially because she has divorced parents and that it the stance that the officials are taking.  They say that this Amber does not meet the criteria for an “Amber Alert.”  I can’t remember ever hearing that child predators only seek out children that are from traditional family units and that they aren’t interested in children after they turn 14.  Have you ever heard that?

I called the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and they do have her listed as a missing child, but they are not the one’s who issue Amber Alerts so she is not listed on the Amber Alert page.  The kind lady who answered the phone said that each state has different criteria for what constitutes and Amber Alert and that they couldn’t help me any further but they did lead me to the California State Clearinghouse for Missing Children, they in turn have led me to the Highway Patrol.

It seems the Highway Patrol is in charge of issuing Amber Alerts in California.  The California Highway Patrol office that handles Escondido put me through to Don Fields and he “has no answer for me” but referred me back to the Escondido Police Department since they are the investigating agency. So again I called the Escondido Police Department and no one is available to speak with me.

I did leave my cell phone number and will promptly update this post as soon as they return my call.  I am very concerned about this girl and being from Escondido myself I am very concerned about the message we are sending to child predators.  I can’t even write the things that are running through my head right now.

Amber Leeanne Dubois is 14, and 14 is still VERY young, she dissappeared on her way to school on Friday, February 13th, the day she was finally able to purchase the Lamb that she had been waiting for, for a school project.  Similar looking girls have been attempted to be abducted in local towns including Poway which is just a few miles south of here.  Please contact your local police department or call 911 if you have any information about this girl.  Whether she ranaway or not, she is in danger and needs to be brought home to her parents, who must be going through a living hell right now. My thoughts are prayers go out to them.

Please forward this post or this information to everyone you know – if Escondido won’t post an Amber Alert, let’s make our own.  Post this on every website and social media site, every email you have and make flyers if you can.  Someone knows where this girl is and we need to do all we can to find her.

Kymberley Page

for Children’s Educational Network

Escondido, CA 92025

760-233-2863

AMBER Alert in Southern California

Please CLICK HERE to find out more information.

Here at KidSafe – We have created a new category for Amber Alerts to keep you up to date on missing and abducted children.  Here is the most recent from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.

Suspect

Vehicle Information

If you have any information about the above abduction or if you see this child, please contact your local police authority or dial 911. Thank – Please spread the word!