Police Investigating Solicitation Of Child Complaint

BATAVIA, IL -- The Batavia Police Department is investigating a report regarding a 7-year-old child who was allegedly solicited by another person online, police said Wednesday. An unknown person, who identified themselves as a 9-year-old boy named "Jessy," used a mobile application to request photos of the child's body without a t-shirt, according to a news release from the police department.

The victim refused to send any photos but the offender repeatedly requested the pictures. The person stated "that it could be a secret between them," police said.

The victim did not send any illicit photographs and quickly advised a parent. The parent then contacted the Batavia Police Department on Aug. 11 and reported the incident, according to police.

It is unclear what possible criminal charges could be pursued in this case dependent on further investigation and collection of evidence. The case remains under investigation.

The Batavia Police Department is continuing to encourage parents to speak with their children about the dangers of the internet and internet safety. If children are allowed to use the internet or mobile applications, police encourage that their usage be strictly monitored.

"It is important to teach children that although the internet can be a useful and fun environment, it also contains many hidden dangers," police said in Wednesday's news release.

The Batavia Police Department shared the following internet safety tips for parents:

Parental Control

• Know all passwords to all electronics, apps, accounts (emails, social media, etc).
• Check your child’s accounts at random to see what the public can view and the activity your child is taking part in. Make sure accounts are set to private.
• Don’t allow them to have strangers as friends/followers.
• Make sure your children know not to share photographs with themselves in them.
• Control the amount of time and time of day your child is on the internet and limit the locations where they are using the device (use only in common areas).

Be familiar with trending apps

• Check the authenticity of apps - Some apps may appear to be a program that is benign, however, if the right key presses are used, the app could unlock other hidden apps, photos, videos, chats, phone numbers and more.

Talk to your child about internet safety and that they can come and talk to you.

• Don’t share personal information.
• Have a username that does not indicate any personal information.
• Don’t share your address, school, age, grade, phone number, parent’s profession/work schedule or other personal information about themselves or their family.
• Never meet a stranger face-to-face that you met online, you never know who you are truly talking to on the other end.
• Never open and email or download files from someone you don’t know.
• Read the rules of websites, social media accounts, etc.
• Explain the dangers of internet bullies.
• Know when your child is at risk
• Using the internet at odd hours
• Switching screens or becoming defensive when you enter the room
• Check your internet history logs on all devices regularly, and don’t allow your child to browse in privacy mode.
• Your child is receiving phone calls from strangers, gifts or money in the mail from a stranger to you.
• Your child is withdrawing from friends and loved ones

Consult the police if you are concerned about your child’s activities online or that they have become a victim.

• Do not advise the offender that you are alerting the authorities.
• Keep any evidence. Don’t delete any files, messages, or photos – no matter how offensive or embarrassing.
• Digital evidence is time-sensitive; don’t delay in making a report to authorities if suspicious activity is discovered.