100th and 101st Predator Arrested by Michigan Attorney General's Child and Public Protection Unit

23 August 2006

Attorney General Mike Cox announced today the arrest of the 100th and 101st computer predators apprehended by the Child and Family Protection Unit. Shawn David Crockett and Michael Bohdan Dackiw were each arrested for soliciting a minor for sexual activity as well as disseminating sexually explicit matter to a minor.

"Internet predators are a clear and present risk to children in Michigan," Cox said. "We have re-invigorated the Criminal Division in the Office of Attorney General specifically to deal with threats such as this. My office will continue to take aggressive action to protect and defend children from those who would seek to harm them."

Since its restructuring, Cox's Child and Public Protection Unit has worked diligently to protect children from the dangerous predators trolling the Internet. The Unit has targeted and apprehended 101 computer predators, making it the most productive Attorney General's computer predator unit in the country.

The 101 Internet Sexual Predators arrested include Kenneth Gourlay, who has been charged with multiple counts of Using a Computer to Commit a Crime. Mr. Gourlay's alleged predatory involvement with minor children was the subject of a multi-part investigative report featured in The New York Times. Other notable arrests have come from all walks of life and include a former prosecutor, a firefighter/police officer, two priests, a schoolteacher, a bus driver, and others in positions with easy access to children.

Attorney General investigators arrested Shawn David Crockett, 33, of Monroe Township at his home on Friday, August 18, 2006. Crockett had been communicating online with an undercover investigator posing as a 13-year-old girl. Crockett solicited her to perform sexual acts on him and sent her multiple pictures of his genitals. Crockett was arraigned August 18, 2006 in the 1st District Court in Monroe before Judge Terrance Bronson, on 4 counts of Internet, Soliciting a Minor for Immoral Purposes, a 10-year felony; and 4 counts of Internet, Disseminating Sexually Explicit Matter to a Minor. Judge Bronson set bond at $100,000 cash, with conditions of no Internet/computer usage and no unsupervised contact with minors. Crockett will be back in court before Judge Mark Braunlich for a pre-exam conference scheduled for Monday, August 28 at 9:00 a.m. The exam is scheduled for Tuesday, August 29, at 3:00 p.m.

"I want to credit and thank the Michigan State Police Monroe Post for their hard work and cooperation throughout the arrest and search warrant," Cox said.

Attorney General Investigators arrested Michael Bohdan Dackiw, 38, of Sterling Heights at his place of work on Monday, August 21, 2006. Dackiw had been communicating online with an undercover investigator posing as a 14-year- old girl. Dackiw solicited her to perform sexual acts on him and sent footage of him masturbating via a web camera. Dackiw was arraigned Monday, August 21, 2006, in the 43rd District Court on 2 counts of Internet, Using a Computer to Commit a Crime - Soliciting a Minor for Immoral Purposes, a 10-year felony.

Dackiw was also arraigned on five counts of Using a Computer to Commit a Crime - Dissemination of Sexually Explicit Matter to a Minor, a 4-year felony. Judge Friedman-Appel set bond at $5,000 and Dackiw will be back in court for a pre-exam conference scheduled for August 29, 2006 before Judge Gubow and the exam is scheduled for August 31, 2006.

A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Parents are encouraged to check their children's "buddy lists" for the screen name(s) Crockett used including "Shawn Hogan." Dackiw's screen name was "michiganfun2003." If parents believe their child had contact with Crockett or Dackiw, parents should contact the Attorney General's office at (313) 456-0180.

Attorney General Cox encourages parents to visit http://www.michigan.gov/ag for tips on safe Internet usage for children. Citizens can also report suspected Internet child predators via the Report Internet Abuses Against Children link, or by calling the Child and Public Protection Unit at (313) 456-0180.

Source: prnewswire

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