Task forces to fight online predators

Alicia Kozakiewicz speaks at a press conference about new funding to combat online child predators within Virginia on Tuesday at the George Mason University Manassas Campus. Kozakiewicz, now 20, was abducted when she was 13 years old from Pennsylvania by a Virginia man and held captive for several days.

By: | Inside NoVA
Published: May 21, 2008

Law enforcement from around the region gathered in Prince William County on Tuesday afternoon for the announcement of the $1.5 million in new funding for two task forces that investigate and catch online child sex predators.

The Northern and Southern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children task forces will each receive $750,000 through "Alicia's Law" -- an initiative authored by Del. Brian J. Moran, D-Alexandria, that was passed in this year's General Assembly.

Moran, chairman of the House Democratic caucus, and Virginia ICAC officials made the announcement at a news conference held inside Bull Run Hall at George Mason University.

While the funding passed by the 2008 General Assembly is a significant cut from the $18 million Moran originally proposed, Virginia State Police Capt. Tim Evans said it still represents the most significant development there has been since the task force's inception in addressing funding needs.

Alicia Kozakiewicz, for whom the law is named, traveled from Pittsburgh to share the story of her abduction and rape at 13 and rescue four days later by police.

In 2002, Kozakiewicz left her home to meet a 38-year-old man she met online.

She was driven to his Herndon home where she was chained, beaten and raped.

Now 20, Kozakiewicz said her hope is that more funding will prevent children from becoming victims of Internet predators and help lead to more rescues.

"With this initiative, we've broadened that statistic," she said.

Officials noted the growing problem of predators attempting to lure children using online chat rooms and the rising demand it's placing on law enforcement.

Several noted that there's no profile for an online predator, making it all the more important for parents to know what their children are doing on the computer.

"It just goes to show that we're not going after the guy in the trench coat anymore, but people from all walks of life," said Lt. Brett Butler, commander of Arlington Police Department's Special Victims Unit.

Lt. Col H.C. Davis, director of state police's Bureau of Criminal Investigation, each of the 38 local, state and federal agencies that are members of ICAC in Northern Virginia will have a say in how the money is spent.

Money will go toward new equipment, additional training and will allow the agencies to take on more cases, officials said.