Texas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force - Man Guilty of Soliciting Sex from Minor
Teacher’s Aide Nabbed in Online Undercover Operation
Beaumont Texas – A 26-year-old Spurger man has pleaded guilty to soliciting sex from an underage child.
Randy Hutto pleaded guilty to one count of Coercion and Enticement before United States District Judge Marcia Crone. Coercion and enticement carries a sentence of not less than ten years in federal prison and not more than life, and a fine up to $250,000.
Hutto was arrested in October 2006 during a two-week undercover operation conducted by the Texas Attorney General’s Cyber Crimes Unit and the Beaumont Police Department. The sting operation yielded the arrests and indictments of three alleged child sex predators in Jefferson County, each of whom allegedly arranged to meet and sexually assault what they believed to be 13-year-old children they had met online. The online profiles were actually those of undercover investigators with the Texas Attorney General’s office.
Hutto was arrested on October 17, 2006 after he arrived at a meeting location in Beaumont, allegedly to meet and sexually assault someone he believed would be a 13-year-old male. He was employed as a teacher’s aide for special education at area middle schools. Hutto was indicted by a federal grand jury in Beaumont on November 15, 2006, on one count of coercion and enticement.
“Child predator sting operations have proven to be a successful way to protect our children,” said U.S. Attorney Orwig. “This would not be possible without the cooperative efforts of local, state and federal agencies working together to ensure our children can grow up in a safe environment.”
“Protecting Texas children is our top priority,” Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott said. “Law enforcement must continue to crack down aggressively on criminals who use the Internet to prey upon young Texans. We are very grateful to U.S. Attorney Matt Orwig, Jefferson County District Attorney Tom Maness, the Beaumont Police Department and the U.S. Marshal’s Office for their commitment to collaboration and strict law enforcement.”
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC). In February 2006, Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protest children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
In Texas, investigative assistance in these matters is provided by the Texas Attorney General’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC). On May 18, 2006, Attorney General Abbott’s Cyber Crimes Unit was awarded a $300,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention to establish an ICAC Task Force. The Texas Attorney General’s ICAC Task Force is one of almost 50 federally funded task forces in the country dedicated to this issue.
Retrieved February 23, 2006 from http://www.ntxe-news.com/artman/publish/article_40673.shtml
Beaumont Texas – A 26-year-old Spurger man has pleaded guilty to soliciting sex from an underage child.
Randy Hutto pleaded guilty to one count of Coercion and Enticement before United States District Judge Marcia Crone. Coercion and enticement carries a sentence of not less than ten years in federal prison and not more than life, and a fine up to $250,000.
Hutto was arrested in October 2006 during a two-week undercover operation conducted by the Texas Attorney General’s Cyber Crimes Unit and the Beaumont Police Department. The sting operation yielded the arrests and indictments of three alleged child sex predators in Jefferson County, each of whom allegedly arranged to meet and sexually assault what they believed to be 13-year-old children they had met online. The online profiles were actually those of undercover investigators with the Texas Attorney General’s office.
Hutto was arrested on October 17, 2006 after he arrived at a meeting location in Beaumont, allegedly to meet and sexually assault someone he believed would be a 13-year-old male. He was employed as a teacher’s aide for special education at area middle schools. Hutto was indicted by a federal grand jury in Beaumont on November 15, 2006, on one count of coercion and enticement.
“Child predator sting operations have proven to be a successful way to protect our children,” said U.S. Attorney Orwig. “This would not be possible without the cooperative efforts of local, state and federal agencies working together to ensure our children can grow up in a safe environment.”
“Protecting Texas children is our top priority,” Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott said. “Law enforcement must continue to crack down aggressively on criminals who use the Internet to prey upon young Texans. We are very grateful to U.S. Attorney Matt Orwig, Jefferson County District Attorney Tom Maness, the Beaumont Police Department and the U.S. Marshal’s Office for their commitment to collaboration and strict law enforcement.”
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC). In February 2006, Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protest children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
In Texas, investigative assistance in these matters is provided by the Texas Attorney General’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC). On May 18, 2006, Attorney General Abbott’s Cyber Crimes Unit was awarded a $300,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention to establish an ICAC Task Force. The Texas Attorney General’s ICAC Task Force is one of almost 50 federally funded task forces in the country dedicated to this issue.
Retrieved February 23, 2006 from http://www.ntxe-news.com/artman/publish/article_40673.shtml