State nonprofit teaming up with Hidalgo Co. DA to fight online child exploitation

HIDALGO, Texas (ValleyCentral) — According to FBI agents, sextortion is a serious crime that occurs when someone threatens to distribute your private and sensitive material if you refuse to provide them with images of a sexual nature, favors, or money.

A state nonprofit is teaming up with the Hidalgo District Attorney’s office to raise awareness.

“We’re trying to be proactive to try to prevent crimes,” Hidalgo County District Attorney Terry Palacios said.

At the Buckner Children and Family Services in Mission, several agencies like the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office, Valley trafficking task forces, Homeland Security, and many more are raising awareness about online child sex exploitation.

Hidalgo County District Attorney Terry Palacios says this issue is on the rise here in the Valley.

“There is an increase in numbers due to the fact that everybody has a phone now they hide their identities they get the kid's confidence, and they go on from there and they’re predators and with everyone having a phone everyone is vulnerable,” Palacios said.

This is why his office is teaming up with the Austin non-profit “Not On Our Watch.”

Organizers have created a panel of experts to educate the community.

“How better to protect children than to make sure that our community is educated in protecting our children from online predators’ sextortion, sex exploitation, those are high crimes right now and if we don’t educate our community and our families this exploitation will continue to rise,” Director Buckner Rio Grande Valley Cris Cuevas said.

Officials with Buckner say this was their first time hosting a panel and hope to have more in the future.

“From their games that they’re playing those sex exploiters are everywhere, they can be in your games on your phones on your iPads, we just need to teach awareness and bring awareness to this vicious crime that’s happening in our communities,” Cuevas said.

The DA says people having the ability to access resources is key.

“We have some help if you need it, we have some resources and were combining together today with a whole bunch of resources,” Palacios said.

Not On Our Watch has now teamed up with the Girl Scouts of Central Texas.

They have started their own curriculum where the scouts can receive a patch and will be educated on protecting themselves and their friends from online predators.