Local News
Catching an Internet predator
CHICKASHA — How safe are your children on the Internet?
The CyberTipline, operated by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, receives between 2,500 and 3,000 reports of suspected illegal behavior targeting children each week. One of those reports directed law enforcement to a Chickasha man last week.
Director of the Exploited Child Unit Michelle Collins said the center is a national clearinghouse of information on missing and exploited children, and their agents work closely with agents from the FBI’s Innocent Images Task Force, the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the US Department of Justice’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force units, and the US Postal Inspection Service.
In March of 1998, the CyberTipline was launched as a means of reporting incidents of child exploitation.
Last week, the CyberTipline received more than 2,800 reports. Of those, Collins said 87 percent referenced child pornography and approximately 200 reports included the online enticement of children for sex acts.
In March, the CyberTipline received information about a possible transaction regarding child prostitution stemming from an AOL chatroom discussion.
While case specifics are not available to the public, Collins said the tips come from one of two sources, the general public or service providers. Internet Service Providers, like AOL, are required by federal law to monitor their services and report any possible exploitation of children.
In this instance, according to the affidavit filed in Grady County District Court, the Center was provided a transcript of an Internet conversation regarding the possible sale of a five-year-old for sex.
Collins said the center has a staff of 20 specialists who review cases to determine jurisdiction, a tricky subject on the world wide web. Those cases where jurisdiction cannot be identified are handled at the federal level.
According to the affidavit, the information about this conversation was handed down to the New York State Police as one of the conversation participants was identified as Keith Comire of Cohoes, New York.
That department then contacted the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation when the man offering the child was identified as Jason Todd Burns, 25, of Chickasha.
According to the affidavit, Burns first denied having the conversation when interviewed by OSBI Agent Lonnie Rickey and Chickasha Police Officer Jason Maddox.
Burns reportedly admitted later to Maddox that he did quote a price for a one-year-old and a five-year-old.
Burns was arrested on Friday, May 4, and is in Grady County jail on $500,000 bond.
“This is a very disturbing case, very upsetting,” Collins said, “The one silver lining is that law enforcement is standing ready to respond to these incidents and the public has a resource like the CyberTipline.”
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children offers resources and information for parents and guardians on their website at www.missingkids.com.
Also on that site is a link to the CyberTipline where the public can report possible crimes against children. Collins said reports may include websites with questionable materials to children being approached for sex over the Internet. The CyberTipline also receives reports on child prostitution, child sex tourism, sexual molestation outside the family, and unsolicited obscene materials being sent to a child.
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Transformations
What comes to mind when you think of the word, “Transformation”?Do you have fantastic thoughts of people or things changing into something amazing for example, Clark Kent turning into Superman or Bruce Banner becoming the Incredible Hulk or possibly something a little more down to earth like a caterpillar miraculously changing into the beautiful butterfly?
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GRADY COUNTY FAIR RESULTS
Plants
Potted Plants
(Several varieties combined)
First: (Adult) Ann O'Bar
Second: (Adult) Joyce Riker
Third: (Adult) Jallane Link -
AROUND THE AREA
SEPTEMBER 2
Poetry Reading
• When: Sept. 2, 7 p.m.
• Where: Eduardo’s Mexican Restaurant, Private Room, 3127 S. 4th St., Chickasha
• Details: Featured Poet is Carol Hamilton, writer, storyteller and Poet Laureate of Oklahoma 1995-97Hamilton’s website is www.carolhamilton.org. There is no admission fee to attend the Poetry Reading, and refreshments are available for purchase. For more information, contact Rockford Johnson, 224-0160 or 317-7506. -
Duncan nips Chicks for straight-game win
Duncan got their eighth match win of the season Tuesday, beating Nancy Waters’ Lady Chicks in straight games at the Activity Center.
The Chicks looked like they had a little hangover from Monday night’s tough road loss at Tecumseh, coming out flat again and dropping their first two games by identical 25-17 scores.
They came out firing on all eight cylinders for game three, running out to a 15-9 lead on the strength of a 7-0 run with Shelby Crosley serving, but the Demons battled back to tie it late and the Chicks let it slip away, 25-21. -
STATE SPORTS BRIEFS
NORMAN (AP) — Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops has named walk-on Patrick O'Hara as the starting place-kicker for the seventh-ranked Sooners.
Stoops said on his radio show Tuesday night that O'Hara won the competition with Jimmy Stevens, freshman Michael Hunnicutt and redshirt freshman Bryce Easley. -
OSU's Gundy still learning on job
STILLWATER (AP) — Mike Gundy hasn't lost his love for dialing up the right play to keep Oklahoma State's offense purring along.
That passion, which he has called the most enjoyable part of his job as head coach, was bred into him as an offensive coordinator. And he is a former starting quarterback for the Cowboys. -
Whimsical metal work, jewelry part of big art show at USAO
A showing of whimsical metal work and jewelry is scheduled to be on display at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma during Helen’s Show Sept. 10-Oct 1.
The show will feature the work of USAO graduate Helen Shafer. The exhibition will be open daily during normal business hours in the Davis Hall Third Floor Art Gallery on the USAO campus. The show is free and open to the public. An opening reception is scheduled Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. in the gallery. -
High-speed chase lands 1 in jail
A high-speed motorcycle chase down Highway 81 last Wednesday landed a Ninnekah man in jail and a felony charge of eluding a police officer.
Court records show that James William Hutchins, 21, blew by Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Timothy Parrish at U.S. Highway 81 and County Road 1460 and was clocked going 144 miles per hour in a posted 70 miles per hour zone.
Parrish reported that he was sitting stationary at that location at about 3:45 p.m. on Aug. 25 when he observed a red motorcycle traveling southbound. He engaged his emergency lights and siren and pulled onto the roadway behind the Triumph motorcycle. -
5 inmates denied parole
Parole was recently denied for five Grady County inmates serving sentences with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.
The following individuals were denied at the August Pardon and Parole Board meeting:
• Jeremiah Daniel Cline, who is serving a five-year sentence for distribution of a controlled dangerous substance and a five-year sentence for possession of a controlled dangerous substance, began his sentence in August 2008.
• Warren P. Diego, who is serving a 15-year sentence (10 years PTS) for lewd molestation, began his sentence in February 2009. -
Judge recuses herself from pharmacy case
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A state district judge has stepped aside from the first-degree murder trial of a pharmacist accused in the fatal shooting of an unconscious would-be robber.
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Transformations
