Joseph Burkett, 41, of Sound Beach, NY
Posted on 06/15/2007 1:54:03 PM PDT by Calpernia
A convicted sex offender is accused of molesting five boys, including at least one he met on MySpace, police said Friday.
Joseph Burkett, 41, of Sound Beach, was arrested Thursday.
The police investigation began several weeks ago when officers received an anonymous tip "that an adult male may have a MySpace page and (may) be looking for young boys to sexually exploit," said Suffolk County Police Detective Sgt. John Cowie.
Cowie said the tipster, possibly a woman who feared her son was being abused, provided good information when she called and left a message, but some of the details were inaccurate and needed to be investigated.
Police said Burkett was convicted about 20 years ago of sexually abusing a 5-year-old in Suffolk County. He was not required to register as a sex offender because his conviction predated Megan's Law requirements, Cowie said.
On May 21, MySpace.com, faced with legal demands from several state attorneys general, said it would immediately begin sharing data on the registered sex offenders it has identified and removed from the popular social networking Web site.
Cowie said MySpace had no involvement in the investigation, nor culpability in the case. "That's just where he (Burkett) went shopping for victims, so to speak."
A message left with a MySpace spokeswoman seeking comment was not immediately returned.
The name of Burkett's attorney could not immediately be determined.
On Tuesday, a police officer spotted a car in front of a Sound Beach house that matched a description given by the tipster. He went to the door, found Burkett living there and noticed two 12-year-old boys in the house, authorities said.
"We still didn't have a crime at that point," Cowie said.
On Wednesday, police returned with a search warrant, and seized Burkett's computer and a digital camera.
On Thursday, after images of children being sexually exploited allegedly were found, Burkett was arrested.
Cowie said that five victims have been identified; one of the boys was from the Binghamton area in upstate New York and met Burkett via MySpace.
He said some of the boys were given bicycles, toys and other gifts to keep quiet.
Burkett was awaiting arraignment on Friday in First District Court in Central Islip.
He was initially charged with two counts of use of a child in a sexual performance, one count of third-degree criminal sex act and one count of second-degree sexual abuse, Cowie said.
Burkett had a variety of odd jobs, most recently as a deli clerk.
The investigation is on-going and anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.
Where were the parents? Did they think their children were safe?
>>>>Cowie said the tipster, possibly a woman who feared her son was being abused, provided good information when she called and left a message, but some of the details were inaccurate and needed to be investigated.
Sounds like it may have been the parent.
This guy needs a lead slug between the eyes.
There is a new hardware device available that you place between your internet modem and your computer or router that monitors content and alerts parents by email or phone call of any predatory behavior on line. So your children can be in a chat room online at home and you will get a call at work alerting you of a suspicious approach. it also blocks porn and allows you to set filters and access times so children can be kept off the web when you don’t want them on there.
Contact me if you want details.
I don’t have children, but that sounds like a good thing to have if it keeps the sickos out.
Good for her! Too many abdicate their responsibility.
With their children becoming victims as a result.
Until the sickos, registered or otherwise, find a way around the mechanical defender.
THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY, even in this parentally-irresponsible age.
Leave it up to someone else (including the government), your children stand a fair chance of becoming victims. Crippled for life. Damaged and ruined. Because you were careless and/or lazy.
Great legacy for the next generations, huh?
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