SOUTHERN VIRGINIA
Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force
2-07-2008 Press Release
Internet porn bill tabled by committee
RICHMOND, VA - Del. Brian Moran, D-Alexandria, called on the Bedford County
Sheriff's Office for help Wednesday to support legislation that would fund a
stronger defense against online sexual predators who target babies and
children. Bedford County Sheriff Mike Brown and Lt. Mike Harmony, commander
of the Southern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force,
delivered statistics and descriptions of online pornography that was beyond
X-rated to an audience of a few legislators and reporters.
Moran's news conference didn't accomplish what he hoped, however. His bill
to provide more than $10 million to police the Internet in Virginia was
tabled in a House of Delegates Appropriations subcommittee. There isn't
enough money in this tight budget year to fund new state programs, members
of the Appropriations Public Safety Subcommittee said. Without more funding,
police will continue to catch only a tiny percentage of people who brutalize
children and post the images online, Harmony said. Moran, who is a candidate
for governor in 2009, said he felt he accomplished "a victory" when
committee members acknowledged the program is needed.
Virginia ranks 10th in the nation in online child pornography, and a
breakdown of the statistics put Lynchburg 29th among Virginia cities. Police
have identified 139 computers in the Lynchburg area that were set up to
distribute child pornography online through file-sharing programs, Harmony
said.