Daily Briefs

U.S. Attorney’s Office releases tips for protecting children from online predators during Covid-19

United States Attorney Andrew Birge offered tips to help parents and guardians keep their children safe from on-line predators, commenting that: “With schools and entertainment facilities closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, kids are using the Internet more and more. Unfortunately, that means online child sexual predators have increased access to them.”

1. Discuss Internet safety with children of all ages that are online. Many children do not realize that people may not be who they claim to be online. Similarly, many do not understand that someone who seems like a friend online could have a deviant motive.

2. Set limits around who your children are allowed to communicate with. You may consider limiting young children to communicating only with people you have personally met. For older children, you may consider limiting them to communicating only with people they have met in person.

3. Set limits around the kinds of devices and applications your children use. Online child sexual predators often use new technologies to avoid detection by law enforcement. If your child is using an application you have not heard of before, consider researching the application online or testing it out using your child’s account.

4. Use technology to protect them. Many devices and programs allow parents to set parameters around which applications children may use and for how long. Similarly, many of these programs allow parents to see what their children are doing while using those applications.

5. Pay attention to warning signs. Children who are sexually exploited are often embarrassed and hesitate to tell parents or other authority figures about their experiences. Pay attention if your child is withdrawing or changing their mood while their Internet activity increases.

6. Report suspected abuse. Reporting can help minimize or stop further victimization. If you believe your child has been sexually exploited online, contact the United States Attorney’s Office, your local F.B.I. office, or report online at www.cybertipline.org.

For additional information and resources on staying safe online and at home, visit https://www.end-violence.org/safeonlinecovid.


4th person charged in fatal shooting of guard over face mask

FLINT, Mich. (AP) — Authorities charged a fourth person Thursday in the fatal shooting of a Michigan security guard who had refused to let a customer inside a store without a face mask during the coronavirus outbreak.

Brya Bishop's alleged crimes occurred after the death of Calvin Munerlyn, who was shot last Friday at a Family Dollar near downtown Flint, prosecutor David Leyton said.
Bishop is the 24-year-old sister of the alleged gunman, Ramonyea Bishop, who is still at large. She's charged with tampering with evidence, lying to police and being an accessory to a felony.

Federal marshals have offered a $5,000 reward for the capture of Larry Teague and Ramonyea Bishop. They are charged with murder, along with Teague's wife, Sharel.

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