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A.G. GETS $250,000 TO STOP INTERNET PREDATORS
TV HOST JOHN WALSH CALLS SHURTLEFF NATION’S TOP A.G.
The Utah Attorney General’s Office received $250,000 to stop Internet predators at an awards ceremony honoring America’s Most Wanted Host John Walsh. During the October 11 ceremony Walsh called Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff the nation’s “top A.G.” for his efforts to protect children.
Operation Kids, a non-profit group dedicated to raising funds for children’s issues, presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Walsh and made a $250,000 donation to the Utah Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Operation Kids also distributed $550,000 from corporate and private donations to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the National McGruff Safehouse.
Walsh also called Shurtleff the “kick a-- A.G.” and offered high praise for the Utah ICAC Task Force. “You really get these creeps before they get the children,” said Walsh. “You’re out there doing God’s work.”
The Utah ICAC Task Force has arrested and prosecuted more than 500 cases since it started in January 2000. More than 100 additional cases are still working their way through the courts and ICAC prosecutors have a nearly 100 per cent conviction rate. The task force has also offered more than 1,000 Internet safety classes to more than 100,000 children.
“This generous donation will do two things: save children from unspeakable crimes and put Internet predators behind bars and away from their computers,” said Attorney General Mark Shurtleff.
“It is wonderful to see a community of people come together to support such a great cause,” said Rick Larsen, president of Operation Kids.
More information about the event and Operation Kids can be found at www.operationkids.com. More information about the Utah ICAC Task Force is available at http://www.attorneygeneral.utah.gov/internet_safety.html.