Sexual predators and traffickers are having a more difficult time preying on children thanks to Texas leaders.
When Austin dentist Michael McCarty was arrested in March 2011, Cyber Crimes Unit investigators found 8,475 images and 121 videos of child pornography in his possession.
A year ago, McCarty began his five years of confinement in prison after surrendering his dental license to officials.
Thanks to Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott and Senator John Abbott, their support of the enactment of a federal law that increases penalties and offers new tools for law enforcement.
“Protecting Texas children from online predators and child pornographers is my top priority,” said Abbott this weekend. “With predators increasingly utilizing technology to prey upon children, it is critically important for law enforcement to gain new tools in our battle to protect Texas children.”
Abbott has earned a national reputation for his aggressive crackdown on sexual predators and child pornographers.
Since launching the Cyber Crimes Unit in 2003, state investigators have arrested 304 criminals for child pornography and using the Internet to prey on children.
Another 1,247 child sexual predators have been arrested by the Attorney General’s Fugitive Unit, which locates and arrests convicted sex offenders who have violated parole or sex offender registration requirements. Together the Cyber Crimes and Fugitive Units have arrested 1,551 child sexual predators since 2003.
“Thanks to Senator Cornyn, that battle got a little easier” with the signing of a new Child Protection Act, Abbott acknowledged.
“We need to provide law enforcement with every tool they need to crack down on the most vile criminals – child sex predators and traffickers – and protect the innocent young people who fall victim to these heinous crimes,” Senator Cornyn said.
“I’m pleased to say this was the product of bipartisan work and wide support from both sides of the aisle in Congress," Cornyn emphasized. "And I’m glad to see the President quickly signed this measure into law to bring greater justice and protection to victims and allow law enforcement to take immediate steps to stop child predators and traffickers in their tracks.”
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