Guarding Our Future: 4 Ohio Valley Men Arrested in Federal Sting on Child Exploitation

In a chilling wake-up call for parents, MSN has reported that four men from the Ohio Valley have been apprehended and charged with heinous crimes against minors. This development comes as part of a broader nationwide initiative to root out child exploitation and human trafficking. U.S. Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld II is urging parents to be extra vigilant about their children's online activities.

Meet the Accused:

- Harry Wells, 53, Follansbee: Charged with attempting to lure a minor for sexual activities. Wells thought he was chatting with a 13-year-old girl online, but it was an undercover agent. He was caught red-handed while attempting to meet her.

- David Evans, 53, Moundsville: Arrested for possessing a horrifying collection of over 600 child pornography images and videos, some featuring children younger than 12.

- Carl Colvin, 70, Wheeling: Charged with both distributing and possessing child pornography. Colvin was using a peer-to-peer network to share these disturbing materials.

- Caleb Steiner, 42, Wheeling: Arrested for failing to register as a sex offender after a previous conviction. Steiner was found living in a tent downtown.

"These investigations over the past several months revealed pretty disturbing things going on with individuals that live in our neighborhood," said U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld. "Crimes against children are top priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Department of Justice."

A Plea for Parental Vigilance

Ihlenfeld is urging parents to up their game when it comes to monitoring their kids online. He recommends using parental control software and other tools to keep a watchful eye on their internet use. Predators often use social media, chat rooms, and gaming sites as hunting grounds.

“It’s more common than anyone would like,” Ihlenfeld noted. “So that’s why we are putting as much pressure on these individuals as possible through indictments and prosecutions and incarcerations. This is just one small part of it. We are going to continue to do as much as we can and be as aggressive as we can.”

See Something, Say Something

If you suspect or witness any form of child exploitation or human trafficking, don't hesitate to report it. Contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST or visit www.cybertipline.org. Local law enforcement agencies are also available for immediate assistance.

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