Texas A.G. Busts More MySpace Sex Offenders

(CBS 11 News) DALLAS Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott is once again going after sex offenders on MySpace.com.

Today Abbott's office announced that its investigators have arrested 14 people in recent weeks—four of them from North Texas. Abbott's office says all 14 are previously convicted sex offenders who illegally created profiles on MySpace. The Attorney General's office says the conditions of each arrestee's parole or probation specifically prohibits him from using the Internet.

The North Texas men arrested are 47-year-old Michael Ray Barnette, arrested in Dallas; 47-year-old James William Boyd, arrested in Fort Worth; 41-year-old Mike Edward Calloway, arrested in Haltom City; and 46-year-old Daniel Joseph Marcotte, arrested in Arlington.

Authorities across the country say dozens of sex offenders have been arrested after using the popular social networking site to pursue additional victims. This is the second time Abbott's investigators have gone after sex offenders who were using MySpace. In June, Texas authorities arrested seven sex offenders with MySpace profiles.

In a statement released today, Abbott said, "These arrests are a stark reminder for parents whose children use social networking sites."

Earlier this year Abbott and other Attorneys General across the country subpoenaed MySpace.com in order to get the names of any registered sex offenders who were registered users of the site. Dozens of people nationwide have been arrested as part of the crackdown.

An article from the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) discusses "Promoting Tolerance and Peace in Children". A natural reaction to acts of violence like school shootings, war, and terrorist attacks is the desire to lash out and punish perpetrators. The article states that "people who are angry or frightened often feel that the ability to "fight back" puts them more in control or will alleviate their sense of pain". Children may have difficulty channeling their feelings appropriately and can easily pick up "negative or demeaning cues" given by adults around them. Bullying and harassing others is never acceptable. "Most importantly, adults must model tolerance and compassion in their words and behavior." The article gives 10 Key Messages for parents to use as well as tips for teachers and for schools.

The Injury Prevention Center is a resource applicable to anyone seeking help with Safe Environment issues. The "Catalogue of Resource Materials" is available at their website: www.injurypreventioncenter.org

Please check out these other helpful links:

http://www12.familywatchdog.us/
(Enter an address and see offenders in your neighborhood, eye opening)

www.elderabusecenter.org
(Elderly Abuse Resource)

www.notforgotten.org
(Adult Protective Services)

www.dfps.state.tx.us
(TX Dept. of Family & Protective Services)

www.crimeweb.net
Link to the FBI National Sexual Predator database and features and information on local crime activity and alerts. Sponsored by local law enforcement groups and corporations.

http://www.nasponline.org/resources/crisis_safety/index.aspx
(School Safety and Crisis Resources)

www.preventchildabusetexas.org

www.webwisekids.org

http://www.fbi.gov/publications/pguide/pguide.htm
(Summer Safety Hints)

Check out this information:

Did you know. . .Bullying is becoming one of the most prevalent forms of peer-on-peer abuse. Bullying can be physical as in hitting, kicking, pushing or choking; verbal harassment as in name-calling, threatening, taunting, malicious teasing, rumor spreading, slandering; or it can be social isolation as in intentional exclusion, making faces, obscene gestures, manipulating friendship relationships.

As parents and educators, constant vigilance is absolutely necessary:

Make clear to your child that bullying IS NOT TOLERATED.

Develop a consistent family rules system using praise and reinforcement for rule-following behavior. Use consistent non-hostile, negative consequences for rule violation.

Spend more time with your child. Monitor and supervise your child's activities. Know your child's friends. Build on your child's talents and help him or her develop less aggressive and more appropriate reaction behaviors.