[Vision2020] Moscow Police Department Press Release

[Stephanie Kalasz]

MOSCOW POLICE DEPARTMENT

118 East 4th Street

Moscow, Idaho 83843

Tel: 208-882-COPS    Fax: 208-882-4020

 


PRESS RELEASE



 

January 23, 2009

 

U.S. Attorney Tom Moss announced that William Edward Stevens, Jr. 52 of Melbourne, Florida pleaded guilty Wednesday, January 21, 2009 in Federal Court to the following charges:

 

1) Use of Interstate Facilities to Transmit Information about a Minor - 18 U.S.C. §2425

2) Conspiracy to Use a Minor to Distribute a Schedule IV Controlled Substance 

     18 U.S.C. §§ 841 (a) and (b)(2), 846 and  861 (a)(1) and (b)

 

These Federal charges were the result of an Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children (I.C.A.C.) Task Force investigation initiated by the Moscow Police Department in March of 2008.  The ensuing investigation determined Stevens knowingly utilized the telephone number and electronic mail address of a 15 year old Moscow resident to entice, encourage, offer, and solicit the child to engage in sexual activity.  During phone contact and electronic mail chats, Stevens encouraged the child to distribute Ambien, a Schedule IV controlled substance, to her mother of the child to facilitate the commission of the acts listed above without the knowledge of the mother.  Stevens has waived his rights and will be sentenced in mid-April.   

 

The Moscow Police Department wants to extend our appreciation to the Brevard County Sheriff's Office in Florida, the Lewiston F.B.I. Office,  the Idaho I.C.A.C. Task Force, and Assistant United States Attorney James Peters.  The assistance and cooperation of all involved agencies was exemplar.  The diligent efforts of the conversant detectives, special agents, and prosecuting attorneys in this case brought to justice an aggressive sexual predator who had targeted a child in our community.

 

The Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force is a statewide coalition of local, state and federal law enforcement and prosecution agencies, focused on apprehending and prosecuting individuals who use the Internet to criminally exploit children.  Internet crimes against children are, primarily, crimes of sexual exploitation of children. These crimes include distribution of child pornography and using the Internet to target children for sexual abuse.

 

Moscow Police Chief Daniel Weaver encourages citizens to help in the fight against child exploitation by reporting information they believe will be useful. You can report Internet crimes against children through the National CyberTipline at www.cybertipline.com <http://www.cybertipline.com/>  or by calling, toll free 1-800-843-5678.  The information you provide will be forwarded to the appropriate ICAC law enforcement agencies in Idaho or elsewhere in the United States.

 

For additional information on this release of information please contact Assistant Chief David Duke at 208-883-7059.

 

 

DANIEL L. WEAVER                                                                        Prepared by: 

            Chief of Police                                                                          Assistant Chief David Duke

 

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