Sheriff Says Phone App Gave Accused Molester Access To Young Girl

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL -- The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office says a new anonymous cell phone app allowed an accused child predator to contact and then rape a 12-year-old girl.

The sheriff’s office arrested Tyler James Dempsey, 23, of 15842 Stable Run Drive, Spring Hill, and charged him with sexual battery with force on a 12-year-old. The sheriff’s office says Dempsey told them he is a former military police officer who was stationed in Germany with the U.S. Army.

Detective Eric Smith of the sheriff’s cyber investigations unit said Dempsey contacted three 12-year-old girls through a phone app called Whisper.

“This app is relatively new,” Smith said. “You don’t have to post a profile or picture of yourself. It’s completely anonymous. The app allows you to geo-locate people around you and then you can send a request to a person to communicate.”

Sheriff Chris Nocco said Dempsey used Whisper to contact three 12-year-olds and ask them if they wanted to get together to party. The girls told Dempsey they were 15 years old.

According to Nocco, Dempsey picked the girls up and took them to his sister’s apartment on Little Road where he gave them marijuana. He then used street slang to ask one of the girls to have sex. The 12-year-old, not understanding what he was asking, went into a room alone with him where he reportedly sexually assaulted her.

He then drove all three girls back to the location where he picked them up.

The 12-year-old rape victim didn’t tell anyone what had happened until Monday when she confided with a guidance counselor at her school. Nocco said the counselor called the sheriff’s office, which tracked down Dempsey.

At first Dempsey denied the allegations but then admitted to having sex with the 12-year-old, Nocco said.

“This little girl did a very brave thing coming forward,” Nocco said.

On Wednesday, Nocco hosted a press conference to warn parents about this new Whisper app and other social media venues that allow sexual predators to prey on children.

“This is a warning out here for parents again. This is another app to be concerned about,” he said. “Social media makes it easier for these deviant, immoral people to take advantage of these little kids.”
He urged parents to watch what apps their children are using on their cell phones and to talk openly with them about the dangers of social media.

Smith said Whisper is the latest app being used by predators.

“The apps change daily and we can’t even keep up,” he said. “Any app that allows live video streaming, be very careful. Any chat app is dangerous because there is no way to verify of the person’s photo or profile are real. And, in the case of Whisper, the user can be anonymous.”

Detectives are still looking into Dempsey’s history to see if there are any previous arrests for sexual molestation.

The only arrest he has on file in Pasco County is a charge for possession of marijuana last year.

He is currently being held at the Land O’ Lakes Detention Center.

Image via Pasco Sheriff