INDIANA – Victimizing a child is now easier than ever before. That’s why Indiana has a police task force dedicated to catching predators.

Extorting a child or a teenager online is as easy as sending them a message and telling them to send nude pics, said Capt. Chuck Cohen, commander of the Internet Crimes Against Children task force (ICAC). But, if someone decides to do it, the task force is actively trying to catch them.

When Brian Kil or Buster Hernandez, who was indicted this week by a federal grand jury, was caught two years ago, he was sextorting girls from Indiana, from California, according to the feds. But, some people have been caught doing it the other way around, said Cohen.

“We’ve seen a number of individuals that have been both investigated and prosecuted in Indiana for doing just that with numerous victims world-wide,” said Cohen.

He said it’s tough to tell who may be sexually attracted to children.

“We have arrested police and firefighters and ophthalmologists and members of the clergy and teacher.”

Cohen said some people fit the stereotype of a creeper. Many others do not. He said if you know anything about child pornography or someone who might be preying on children, call the Indiana State Police.

 

Photo by Emiliano Vittoriosi on Unsplash