THE PROSECUTOR’S PROGRESS A N U PDATE FROM THE V IRGINIA B EACH C OMMONWEALTH ’ S A TTORNEY ’ S O FFICE V OLUME 2, I SSUE 2

A M ESSAGE

FROM THE

S PRING 2016

C OMMONWEALTH ’ S ATTORNEY

With today’s ever-changing technology, it is most important that children are protected from Internet predators. Every year the Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office prosecutes countless cases in which children and teens either got in trouble for their Internet, smart phone, or tablet activity, or were victimized as a result of it. On May 23, 2016, my office kicked off its “Always Online” social media safety campaign. The campaign provides parents a guide for monitoring their children’s social media activity and arms them with tools to assist in protecting their children from online dangers. With production assistance from Virginia Beach’s Multimedia Services division, my office created a public service announcement on Internet predators. To view the 30-second PSA, click here. Let’s keep this danger out of Virginia Beach. If just one Virginia Beach child is victimized by an Internet predator, that is too many. We cannot be looking over our children’s shoulders 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, but we need to be checking their devices regularly. The only way we can protect our children from online dangers is to stay involved, every day, with their online activity. As a community, we set the standard for purposeful living for our children. Help me keep Internet predators out of Virginia Beach. Sincerely, Colin Stolle

Are your children safe online? Page 2: Which social media apps can put children and teens in danger? Page 3: How can parents protect their children?

S PECIAL

POINTS OF INTEREST :

 Message from the Commonwealth’s Attorney: Online Safety: A top Priority in Virginia Beach  Social Media Apps: A Guide for Parents  How to Protect your Children Online  Featured Cases of the Quarter  Where to Catch CWA Office this Summer

V OLUME 2, I SSUE 2

S OCIAL M EDIA A PPS : A G UIDE

P AGE 2

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P ARENTS

Ever-changing technology makes it hard for parents to stay ahead of their children’s attempts to bypass parental controls. While social media apps can be fun and safe, they can have unintended consequences when not used and monitored appropriately. The following is a list of apps that are currently popular with teenagers and should be monitored regularly by parents. This list was compiled in May 2016 based upon a review of cases handled by the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, investigation by law enforcement, and additional research. Please keep in mind that apps are constantly being created, developed, and improved. As new apps are developed, parents can find updates by visiting the website for the CWA Office. 

Kik—Allows user to send texts, pictures, and video. Users can be anonymous and talk with strangers. Users can also surf the web from within the app.

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Snapchat—Lets users put a time limit on the pictures and videos they send before they disappear. Teens believe images go away forever; that is not true. Anything posted online never truly “goes away.”

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Whisper—A “confessional” app that allows users to post anything on their minds without repercussions. “Whispers” can go public unintentionally and the content can be inappropriate for teenage users.

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Ask.fm—Allows users to ask and answer questions posted by others. It can be anonymous, which can result in teenagers exhibiting behavior they otherwise wouldn’t.

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Yik Yak—Geographically based anonymous chat app that allows users to send photos and texts to people near their location.

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Tinder—Mainly used as a dating tool or anonymous hook-up locator by adults; helps people find others in their geographic location for chatting and photo-sharing.

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Omegle—An anonymous chat app that allows users to discuss anything they like. Users get paired up with strangers to chat.

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Calculator Vault—Looks like a regular smartphone calculator, but is a secret way to hide photos, video, and information. The user can take photos from within the app. It is password protected.

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Burn Note—A messaging app that erases messages after a set period of time. Teens may reveal more than they normally would since messages are “deleted.”

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Line—A text, video, and voice-messaging app that includes group chats and games. Texting and video calls are free (even internationally).

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P ROTECT Y OUR C HILDREN O NLINE

ComputerCop Software (Intended for desktop or laptop computers) 

A program that allows parents to monitor Internet activity and look out for online threats such as cyber-bullying, gangs, drugs, and predators

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Allows for a search of images, chats, web searches, e-mails, browsing history, and more

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Available at no cost to any Virginia Beach resident at any Virginia Beach Public Library (software was purchased with funds that were seized from criminal activity in Virginia Beach, at no cost to tax-payers)

Cell-provider based services*  The major cellular service providers have programs to help parents monitor their children’s activity on their mobile devices  Programs are integrated into the phone’s operating system and administered by the provider  Some features can include: setting restrictions on times the device can be used and who can be contacted, receiving alerts

on activity, tracking location of the device, blocking web content, monitoring downloading of apps, providing protection from spyware/malware, and restricting activity while driving

*Each provider’s abilities and fees are different and are updated frequently. Check with your provider about which features would work for your family.

Third-party apps**  Some third party applications go further in monitoring user-created data, such as social media posts, pictures, and instant

messaging, which most cell provider based security applications are incapable of monitoring  Most third-party applications are significantly more expensive and some may be easily bypassed by a “tech-savvy” child  Some features can include: recording keystrokes, recording an activity log, providing access to photo and video galleries,

blocking and monitoring of web content, and allowing remote access to mobile device’s settings **iKeyMonitor and Mspy are a few examples. Programs are created and developed frequently.

P ARENTS : S TAY I NVOLVED  Third party applications and cell provider-based services cannot be a substitute for talking to your children about online

safety and for checking up on their internet use yourself.  Encourage teens to be themselves online; do not post or become part of conversations that will get them in trouble or

negatively impact their future.  Encourage your teen to feel comfortable talking to you or another trusted adult about content that confuses or upsets them.  Discuss the importance of reporting to a trusted adult any threat of violence to another individual, regardless of whether the

threat appears to be a joke.  Talk about the dangers of disclosing personal information to strangers.  Monitor, monitor, monitor!

F EATURED C ASES OF THE Q UARTER Commonwealth v. Saroun Sou Charges: Forcible Sodomy (3 counts) Sentence: Three Life Terms in Prison Facts: Between January and August 2014, Saroun Sou sexually assaulted a young child known to him on multiple occasions. In order to accomplish this, Sou covered the child’s mouth so the child could not scream, bribed the child with video games, and threatened to beat the child. The child disclosed the abuse to a trusted adult who told police. Sou stated to police, “Can I just plead guilty now and go to jail? I am ready to just get this over with. I did everything they say I did.” Sou also told police that he was “sick in the head” and that abusing the child gave him an “adrenaline rush.” The investigation revealed that the abuse spanned three years and began in another state. Commonwealth v. Michael Scott McCann Charge: Object Sexual Penetration Sentence: Life in Prison Facts: Between June 15, 2014, and September 22, 2014, Michael Scott McCann sexually molested a child known to him. Sometimes he gave the child money and lottery tickets to get the child to allow him to do this. The child disclosed the abuse to a trusted adult, who immediately reported it to the police. McCann denied the abuse. Commonwealth v. Devon Major Charges: Robbery (2 counts), Use of Firearm (2 counts) Sentence: 56 Years Facts: On June 29, 2014, Major robbed the Family Dollar on Princess Anne Road. He walked through the store, selected a bag of chips, and approached the register. He then pointed a gun at the cashier and demanded the money in the register and safe. He fled with approximately $695. On July 7, 2014, Major and two co-conspirators robbed the 7-Eleven store located at 3964 Holland Road. Major went behind the counter, displayed a gun, and demanded money from the registers. The other two men acted as “look-outs” at the front of the store. Major took the money and several packs of cigarettes before ordering the cashier to the back of the store to unplug the surveillance system. Major was arrested after images from the surveillance system were released to the media, resulting Crime Solvers tips. Commonwealth v. Tyrone Jackson Charges: Second Degree Murder, Robbery (Attempt) and Use of Firearm Sentence: 27 Years Facts: On June 3, 2004, Jackson and another man went to the home of Sean Sessome to rob him. Both assailants displayed guns, and a struggle ensued between them and Sessome. Jackson and his co-conspirator both shot Sessome, who died as a result. All leads in the investigation were explored in 2004, but investigators were unable to determine the identity of the shooters, and the case went cold. In July 2013, the Cold Case Unit of the Virginia Beach Police Department reviewed crime-scene photographs and physical evidence. A metal bar from the crime scene was determined to be a part from a gun that broke off during the struggle. Jackson’s DNA was on it. He was located in late 2014 and confessed.

For more details on these cases and other Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office news, visit: https://www.vbgov.com/government/departments/commonwealths-attorney

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Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office 2425 Nimmo Pkwy, Building 10 B, 2nd Floor Phone: 757-385-4401 E-mail: [email protected]

TO

C ATCH THE CWA O FFICE S UMMER 2016

Pungo Strawberry Festival: Friday, May 27, 5-9 p.m. In fields surrounding 1776 Princess Anne Road, Virginia Beach

TOGETHER, WE CAN KEEP VIRGINIA BEACH SAFE!

Parks and Rec Summer Movie Night Series Friday, July 22nd: “Minions” Friday, August 12th: “Home” Friday, August 26th: “Peanuts Movie” Activities start at 7 p.m., at Mount Trashmore Park off Edwin Drive

The Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney is dedicated to serving our community. To request the Office's assistance at your community event, please e-mail Public Information Officer Macie Allen at [email protected].

National Night Out Tuesday, August 2nd (times vary; most begin at 6 p.m.) In various Virginia Beach neighborhoods (activities vary by location); For suggestions in planning your event, contact the Virginia Beach Police Department Crime Prevention Unit at (757) 385-1006