Maine law enforcement continue to see more online child exploitation cases

PORTLAND (WGME) -- A Texas man will be in prison for the next 11 years after convincing two Maine kids to send him explicit photos and videos. Prosecutors say he met one of the children through Instagram.
Dec 18 / WGME
Authorities started to see an increase in online child exploitation cases in recent years. It's a trend that continues."It's exploded since the pandemic," Darcie McElwee, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maine, said.She says with more kids being isolated and online, sextortion is the fastest-growing type of crime her office sees."As the perpetrators become more savvy and more bold, I think our kids are just as vulnerable as ever," McElwee said.

Her office has seen cases involving children as young as 11, but it’s hard to get victims to come forward."The minute they start sharing those intimate images, the likely request is going to be for more images or for money," McElwee said.Cases like the ones she’s successfully prosecuted aren’t just a potential deterrent, they’re a wake-up call for parents."It can happen anywhere," Portland Police Department Detective Eric Johnson said.Johnson investigates these kinds of cases.

"What parents should really focus on is teaching their children proper online behavior and limiting the risk that way," Johnson said.

He also recommends enforcing screen time hours or limiting where devices can be used.

"There’s room for parents to be involved, to enforce common-sense rules to ensure kids are conducting themselves in a safe way," Johnson said.

He adds that it’s also on parents to educate themselves about the facts, potential threats and how to mitigate them.
"While trying not to scare your kids away from technology. It’s a good balancing act but something that’s important," Johnson said.

"These conversations are hard," McElwee said.

McElwee encourages parents to know what their kids are looking at online, ask questions often.

"Show interest in the things they’re doing online so they will share what they’re doing," McElwee said. "So you have a sense of, most importantly, who they are talking to online, who has access to them."