Whether it is a Florida sex offender, a Texas sex offender, or a California sex offender, the truth is that all sex offenders have one thing in common. They are sex offenders. Although there is nothing more a citizen can do than to merely obtain information, in many cases, just knowing is enough to stop tragedies like the one in this story from happening. Take advantage of your right to know and do regular sex offender searches in your area to keep your kids and your loved ones safe.

During an investigation stretching back to the summer of 2017, the Sheriff’s Human Trafficking Unit discovered that Trevor Ferrel, of Santa Maria, CA, was using a “false identity” on Facebook to try to get nude photos from underage girls and get them to meet for sex.

Trevor Ferrel, 31, was arrested on January 2, 2018, after arriving at the location he was given by someone who he thought was a teenage girl- but was really an undercover investigator. In August, the investigator received information on Ferrel’s heinous acts, so he posed as a young girl to catch the perv in action. When the suspect didn’t show to the first meet, which he arranged to exchange sex acts for money back in September, the detective issued a search warrant. The investigation carried on for months and revealed Ferrel’s numerous attempts at contacting “high school-aged” girls for sex.

The Sheriff’s Office would like to remind parents of the dangers of social media regardless of the platform

Ferrel, who now faces two charges, including arranging to meet with a minor for the purpose of a lewd act, used different methods to victimize the young females.

Those methods include:

• threatening to post the nude pictures he was sent
• to notify their parents of the photos the girls had sent
• offering to pay money for sex acts

“We encourage parents to monitor their children’s social media use and to educate them on the dangers of online predators,” Sheriff’s Human Trafficking Unit.

It is always the best safety practice to be on the lookout for any suspicious or unexplained activity on your children’s social media accounts. Although they will always try to hide things from you, make a valiant effort to communicate with them about the dangers of social media and the kinds of things that can happen when young people meet up with strange adults.

Yes, it is a tragedy that child sex trafficking, sexual predator abductions, and other child-related crimes occur, but the best thing we can do is to communicate to our loved ones so that if they are put into a position where they are in danger, they are prepared to deal with the situation accordingly. Having an open line of communication with children is a priceless tool when it comes to preventing tragedies from happening and saving lives.

Talk to your children. Let them know that they don’t have to answer to any other grown-up than you or the grown-ups that you tell them to answer to. It could just save them from a horrible occurrence.

***Registered Offenders List is a free online resource that strives to offer helpful content and resources to its visitors regarding registered sex offenders that live near you.