Bruce Carter of Miami, Florida was arrested Tuesday after he allegedly attempted to meet a 12-year-old boy for sex, news sources report. Carter, 49, reportedly met the victim online. Carter was booked into the Miami-Dade County Jail on two counts of prohibited use of computer devices, one count of traveling to meet a minor for sex, and one count of transmitting harmful material to a minor. It is unclear whether he qualified for bail bond. It is also not yet known whether he has obtained an attorney.
According to reports, Carter met the victim using a social networking application. The details of how long Carter had been in contact with the child are not yet clear. However, judging by the charges, it appears that Carter may have sent the child inappropriate content during their conversations. At some point, Carter allegedly attempted to meet with the child. Detectives somehow got wind of the plans and intervened, taking Carter into custody. It is not yet clear how detectives learned of the conversations or the meet-up, or if the arrest was part of a police sting operation.
Police are currently investigating the incident. It is not yet known whether they may identify any additional victims. There is no indication that Carter actually assaulted or harmed a child.
Child predators are quite common on the internet, largely due to the popularity of the internet with children and teenagers. PureSight, an online child safety website, estimates that around 93% of all American children between the ages of 12 and 17 uses the web regularly. One in five US teens say they were the victim of unwanted sexual solicitation online; 30% of those victims were boys, the PureSight website says. The website also claims, "In 100% of the cases, teens that are the victims of sexual predators have gone willingly to meet with [the offender]."
In other news, Julie Beers of Boynton Beach was arrested Monday when police found her and her 5-year-old daughter lying in filth behind a dumpster, reports say. Beers was reportedly intoxicated at the time of the alleged incident. Beers, 42, was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail on charges of child neglect. It is unclear whether she qualified for bail or hired legal representation.