AG Corbett pursues internet predators
Friday, April 3rd, 2009
Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett says his office has reached a milestone in an ongoing effort to arrest and convict online sexual predators. But Corbett concedes the operation isn't deterring would-be criminals from attempting to pick up juveniles on the Internet.
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Corbett, a Republican who's likely running for governor next year, has made his office's Child Predator Unit a high-profile cornerstone of his tenure as Attorney General. Corbett says seven men were arrested in the past week.
Corbett: Very hard for us to teach them not to do it. If they would quit doing it it would make our job a lot easier. Education to the children is the most important part. Public awareness is very important. We're not sure how to get through to the predator. This is an overwhelming desire on their part.
Corbett's agents pose as juveniles on chat rooms and social networking sites, and agree to liaisons with suspected sexual predators before moving into arrest them.
Corbett says seven men were arrested in the past week.