DETECTIVE: 'Spike’ in online child sex crimes during COVID-19

NORTHEAST, FLA. — UPDATED 5/29/2020 - Action News Jax requested the number of child pornography and child solicitation via the internet arrests from Jan. 1 to May 14, 2019 and 2020.

Deputies said last year there were three. They said this year we’ve had nine.

ORIGINAL STORY 5/18/2020 - That Clay County Sheriff’s Office detective is undercover, so Action News Jax is not naming him. He said he has seen a, “significant increase” in the past few months during COVID-19.

CCSO says Phillip Scharf, 79, is facing charges for child pornography.

At the end of March -- as the COVID-19 pandemic was heating up -- CCSO said it linked the crimes to Scharf from his IP address.

But, an Action News Jax source with inside knowledge on these investigations said Scharf is far from the only one.

The detective said there have been at least five in-depth investigations since the pandemic began. He said that number is much higher than years past, calling this a spike, directly linked to coronavirus.

“A lot of people are not able to go out to work, so they’re using that opportunity at this time to exploit children,” said Sandra Shin, the founder of the Jacksonville nonprofit, Hope for Freedom, which advocates for victims of human trafficking.

Shin is a survivor of child exploitation.

“My mom bought a house and was unable to pay for it. And at 11 years old I was given to a man to have sex with as payment until I was 13 years old, and at that time I ran away,” Shin said.

Shin and our Action News Jax source said now more than ever, parents need to be involved in what their children are doing on their computers and phones.

“If I had had someone to say something in my life, that wouldn’t have happened to me,” Shin said.

Action News Jax reached out to other area agencies:

• The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office says it has experienced an increase in the number of cybertips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
• The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office reports an increase in tips, but no arrests thus far.
• Putnam County deputies issued a warning for dangerous apps children are using as students started online schooling during the pandemic.
• Nassau County deputies said they’ve seen more domestic violence cases, and Baker County reported no change.

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