A Fresno man accused of possessing and distributing child pornography now faces additional charges for allegedly sexually abusing a teenage boy.
36-year old David Hume is suspected of having numerous online chats with a 13-year old boy. He then allegedly met the boy on two separate occasions to perform sexual acts. Hume is facing federal charges.
Thanks to federal grants, Central Valley law enforcement agencies are able to fund the Internet Crimes Against Children task force. It allows certain investigators to strictly focus on tracking down online predators.
“This particular investigation was proactive where they searched peer to peer systems where people actively trade child pornography,” said Fresno Co. Sheriff Margaret Mims.
Once members of the Internet Crimes Against Children task force got inside Hume’s computer, they discovered he had been having online chats with a 13-year old boy and had even met the teenager at a Selma park.
When detectives found the boy and interviewed him, the child claimed that Hume had molested him.
“He was not a registered sex offender, so he would not have even been on our radar had we not had the availability of the detectives who do this work all the time,” said Sheriff Mims.
In the last year, Central California’s I.C.A.C. task force has made 72 child pornography arrests and rescued 10 children who were victims of sex abuse.
There are a total 58 agencies in the Central Valley's nine county region which helped in those cases.
“So when we have that kind of team and we're all looking out for the interest of the children in our community, that’s pretty powerful,” said Sheriff Mims.
The popularity of social networks and online devices makes it more and more difficult for parents to keep tabs on what their children are viewing or who they are talking to. Ruth Robinson believes the best preventative measure is to be involved with your kids' lives.
“Talking to them daily, sitting at the table, having discussions as you're eating. Listen to them. Being the example to is going to help them know what's ok and what's not ok,” said Ruth Robinson, a mother of four children.
Investigators are concerned there may be other unidentified victims in this case. If you have any information related to David Hume, call the Fresno county sheriff's department at (559) 600-8144.
