Online Child Safety Concerns After Walker County Arrest
Hyeonsoo Ko, a South Korean national, remains in the Walker County Jail this morning. The 24-year-old is charged with multiple child sexual crimes by the Walker County Sheriff's Office.
Ko has been charged with:
• Traveling to Meet a Child for an Unlawful Sex Act ×3
• Enticing a Child to Enter a Vehicle/Residence ×1
• Rape 2nd Degree ×2
• Sexual Abuse 2nd Degree ×2
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Investigators determined that Ko allegedly traveled to Walker County on at least three separate occasions in connection with these offenses.
Bond for Ko has been set at $250,000 cash.
Ina Facebook post, the Walker County Sheriff's Office note that, "This case is another reminder of the dangers our children face both online and in person. Predators will travel across state lines — and even across the world — to target children.
The Walker County SO is encouraging parents to stay involved in their children’s online activity, know who they are communicating with, and report anything suspicious immediately.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) advises there is not a single day that the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) does not investigate an internet crime involving children as a victim.
From gaming platforms and social media to messaging apps and streaming services, children are spending more time connected than ever before. While these tools can offer learning and social benefits, they can also expose young users to risks such as exploitation, inappropriate contact and other technology-facilitated crimes.
To report an incident of actual or suspected online child sexual exploitation, call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's (NCMEC) 24-Hour Call Center at 1-800-843-5678, submit a CyberTip report to NCMEC at report.cybertip.org, or contact the FBI at tips.fbi.gov.
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