HARRIS COUNTY, GA (WTVM) -
Harris County Sheriff's deputies didn't have to go undercover fortheir latest bust of sexual predators. The tip came from a local parentwho found her 15-year-oldon the website DateHookUp.com.
Even though the website says you must be 18 years old to sign up,the young girl got through and was being propositioned by men in the area.
The mother turned over her daughter's profile to Harris County investigators. Whensomeone initiated contact with the teen, authorities responded.
Investigator Glenn Presley said, "The chat messages werevery explicit, sexually explicit. Some of those sending the chats were actuallyinquiring about meeting the 15-year-old. The sexually explicit communication continued and therewere obscene and lewd photos sent. A meeting place was set up."
Instead of a cute girl, the men encountered deputies with handcuffs.
Kurt Ventors, Steven Horward and Justin Copeland are all chargedwith attempted child molestation. John Perrine was charged with enticing achild for indecent purposes and furnishing obscene material to aminor.
"It goes back to just old-fashioned parenting. You really have to beaware of what your teenagers are doing, especially as it pertains toonline," said Presley. "It really surprises me how many peopleare out there that are willing to commit this kind of crime. It kind ofblows your mind at the magnitude."
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Kurt Ventors (Source: Harris County Sheriff's Office)
Steven Horward (Source: Harris County Sheriff's Office)
Justin Copeland (Source: Harris County Sheriff's Office)
John Perrine (Source: Harris County Sheriff's Office)
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