How to protect your kids from online predators

CAROLINE Co., Md. – On Tuesday, 47ABC learned more about the Caroline County man who’s accused of possessing and distributing child pornography.

According to charging documents, Maryland State Police received a cybertip from Imgur back in April that a man had uploaded four pornographic images of children to their website.

Elena Russo, the Public Information Officer for Maryland State Police said, “He was uploading images of child pornography obscene images from a social media platform.”

Charging documents suggest that police were able to connect 38-year-old James Sleasman of Caroline County to the posts through an IP address.

Police say that Sleasman was in contact with a minor under the age of 16 at the time of the investigation.

Unfortunately, cases like this are all too common so it’s important for parents to know how to protect their kids.

Sergeant Milton Orellana with the Easton Police Department said, “You have to talk to your kids and explain to them that you might not know who you’re talking to it might not be that picture that you’re seeing.”

Police say you should be wary of letting your children use certain gaming sites.

Orellana said, “Predators, they use even simple games for kids to try to talk to them and communicate to them because there’s always a lot of these games have a way of chatting.”

Police add that kids should never talk to anyone they don’t know online.

Orellana said, “If a kid is going tot talk to someone online it should be a friend a person that they’ve personally met.”

Finally, police suggest that you have a blackout time with your kids when it comes to using social media.

Orellana said, “Kids shouldn’t be online especially when you know everyone is asleep.”

Sleasman faces upwards of 100 charges and he is currently behind bars under a $50,000 secured bond.

Police have one victim identified in this case, but they think there may be others.

If you know anything about this case or you know a victim, you’re encouraged to call the Centreville Barrack at 410-758-1101.