Pedophiles getting life sentences

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - James Reigle Jr. received life in prison without the possibility of parole.

His crime wasn’t murder, which usually carries a heavy sentence. It was the production and transportation of child pornography.

Reigle was one of 40 people prosecuted by Maryland U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein’s staff last year in a massive campaign to catch pedophiles.

“This is one of those areas that’s getting worse, because the Internet is proliferating,” Rosenstein said.

Such prosecutions stem from the Project Safe Childhood Task Force, which provides training to law enforcement officers, probation officers and victim-service providers, Rosenstein said.

The Task Force is made up of law enforcement officers from throughout the state who meet periodically to coordinate investigations.

Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger said he’s glad to send Baltimore County cases to Rosenstein’s office for prosecution when he can because of the long sentences available in the federal system.

For one thing, unlike the state the federal system has no parole.

Baltimore City Assistant State’s Attorney Jo Anne Stanton said that like Rosenstein, her office is encountering an increased number of cases involving online pedophiles.

Rosenstein said online chat rooms are increasingly allowing potential predators to communicate directly with children.

Prosecutors said recent reports indicate that one in seven youngsters aged 10 to 17 who are regular Internet users are sexually solicited online — and that is including younger and younger children.

Prosecutors also note that online child pornography is becoming more graphic and violent.

Rosenstein also warned parents to monitor what their children are getting into on the Internet.

“Every parent’s worst nightmare is just one mouse-click away,” he said. “Parents who let their children use the Internet without supervision might just as well drop them off alone on the most dangerous street in the world.”

To protect children from child predators, the Department of Justice has also developed “Think Before You Post” public service announcements aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of online predators.

lbroadwater@baltimoreexaminer.com

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