CASPER, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) – A Casper man was arrested in late June during an undercover operation targeting online child predators.
The Natrona county sheriff’s office partnered with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation as well as Internet Crimes Against Children Team and the Office of Homeland Security Investigations to target criminals preying on and exploiting children.
Kiera Grogan, the public information officer with the Natrona County Sheriff’s Office said, “With the digital age and landscape advancing and growing so quickly we want to make sure that parents and caregivers have up to date information on some of the internet dangers that surround the youth these days.”
The two-day operation resulted in the arrest of 36-year-old Adam Paul Custeau of Casper on June 24th. He had responded to an online advertisement to pay to have sex with who he believed to be a 12 and 14-year-old girl. Custeau has been charged with one felony count of attempting to entice a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity. He’s currently being held at the Natrona County Detention Center. The sheriff’s department encourages parents and adults to have conversations with youth in their lives and educate themselves on potential dangers on the internet.
Grogan said, “For those teenagers who are using online applications and apps on their cell phones, never ever chat with someone you don’t know in real life. If you’re starting a conversation or someone is starting a conversation with you on an application and you don’t know who they are, be very weary. Do not friend them on your online applications and don’t continue conversations. They could be a predator and you don’t know what their intentions are.”
The Natrona County Sheriff’s Office will be holding a presentation on internet safety for parents, caregivers and community members next week. It will take place on Wednesday, July 26th at 6:15 at the Agricultural Resource and Learning Center in Casper.
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