MySpace 'Poser' Arrested For Attempted Sexual Battery

First Coast News ^ | 5/11/06 | Kyle Meenan

[wagglebee]

NEPTUNE BEACH, FL -- A First Coast man is behind bars after police say he posed online as a 16-year old girl to lure a teen victim into forced sex.

27-year-old Travus Earl Belden is charged with attempted sexual battery on a minor, false imprisonment, and battery. His alleged victim -- a 14-year old Neptune Beach boy.

Police who arrested Belden say he told them he was planning to harm the boy.

"He (Belden) said that his intentions were sexual and violent in nature and he intended to do the young boy harm," said Neptune Beach Sergeant Ryan Hall.

Police say Belden created a MySpace internet account posing as a 16-year-old girl and chatted for weeks with the 14-year-old victim.

They decided to meet.

Sergeant Hall described how Belden planned to meet the 14-year-old boy in their online chats.

"He said, 'I'd like to meet you' as a 16-year-old girl, but you have to meet my brother first --he's 17. You want to make sure that there's nothing weird going on and make sure that you're a decent guy," said Hall.

Police say Belden, now posing as a 17-year-old 'brother,' picked the teen up at Jarboe Park in Neptune Beach, stopping at the Day's Inn on Atlantic Boulevard.

"He told the boy he needed to drop something off for a friend who was staying at the hotel," said Sgt. Hall.

"And when they got inside (the room) the suspect locked the door behind him, and the victim realized at this time something wasn't right and tried to leave, and the suspect wouldn’t let him leave."

But Sgt. Hall says, the teen fought back.

"The victim was able to fight his way out of there."

The boy escaped with scrapes and bruises, but police say it could have been far worse.

"The suspect had told me that his intention was to force the victim into sex."

First Coast News spoke with the boy's mother, who said she had been extremely careful to bring her child up in an atmosphere of safety.

"From the time he was a little boy he knew never to go with a stranger," she said.

"We've had code words that if a stranger tried to pick him up he'd know to ask for the code word and run for help if the stranger couldn't give the right answer," she said.

"But I am amazed that this online person was able to gain his confidence over the course of a few weeks of chatting."

Both the victim and his mother declined an on-camera interview, but both are grateful for the outcome.

"Luckily my son is very strong, and the guy (Belden) is a little guy so he couldn't overpower my son."

Police caution parents to try to know what their teens are doing online and suggest moving computers out of the teen’s bedrooms to more public rooms like living rooms or dining rooms.

[wagglebee]

"He (Belden) said that his intentions were sexual and violent in nature and he intended to do the young boy harm," said Neptune Beach Sergeant Ryan Hall.

Well, he's going to find out a lot about violent sex in prison.

[kinoxi]

hopefully, this is florida now...

[dagoofyfoot]

He even looks gay!

[wagglebee]

MORAL ABSOLUTES and HOMOSEXUAL AGENDA PING

DISCUSSION ABOUT:

MySpace 'Poser' Arrested For Attempted Sexual Battery

Everyone needs to understand the danger of websites like MySpace.com.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To be included in or removed from the MORAL ABSOLUTES PINGLIST, please FReepMail wagglebee.

To be included in or removed from the HOMOSEXUAL AGENDA PINGLIST, please FReepMail either DBeers or DirtyHarryY2K.

[Das Outsider]

Everyone needs to understand the danger of websites like MySpace.com.

In other words, everyone needs to understand the danger of posting personal information, like name, town, school, and other such things on a website that anyone can access.

At this point, who doesn't know about MySpace and its reputation for being a pedophile's paradise?

[wagglebee]

At this point, who doesn't know about MySpace and its reputation for being a pedophile's paradise?

But unfortunately, I read stories on a regular basis about children who are harmed because of information they've posted on MySpace and invariably their parents talk about how they "just thought they were chatting online with classmates."

[Das Outsider]

But unfortunately, I read stories on a regular basis about children who are harmed because of information they've posted on MySpace and invariably their parents talk about how they "just thought they were chatting online with classmates."

Yep. Reading stories like this only further reinforces my belief in man's universal depravity; not so much because of the extreme nature as what seems to be an increasing number of such stories.

You've followed these stories--would you tend to agree that we're seeing more instances of this kind of assault against children ?

[wagglebee]

I think we are definitely seeing more and it is very disturbing. I think that at least part of it is lack of parental involvement. Kids never go outside and play anymore, they are in their rooms on the computer. The parents think that as long as they appear safe that they are safe.

[John O]

www.truevine.net

Server side filtering. It can't be defeated from the pc side. You can't download free isp software. You can't get to any adult sites. You can't get to myspace.com. Totally family friendly.

Even incoming email is flitered and suspect ones are blocked.

As long as the kid doesn't have a credit card (to order AOL or some other isp) then they are totally safe.

It runs pretty quick too.

[ishabibble]

Everybody needs to sign up at MySpace.com, IMHO.

I signed up about two months ago, when a friends' daughter almost got herself involved in this same situation. Mom is my great pal, but she is a clueless idiot and let the girl back on the bedroom computer...for homework, don'cha know.
I check in once in awhile, just to let her know that Mom's nosy friend, who hates all teenagers, is watching. It is working...so far.

[warsaw44]

I don't know if you folks have ever seen this web site named
www.mycrimespace.com but it is amazing. It details all the crime and criminal activity associated with Myspace.com. and other such web sites.
It staggers the imagination

[Das Outsider]

I check in once in awhile, just to let her know that Mom's nosy friend, who hates all teenagers, is watching.

Mom's nosy friend sounds like me.

[Das Outsider]

Am I crazy or does this Belden guy look a like the lovechild of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck?

[Das Outsider]

I don't know if you folks have ever seen this web site named www.mycrimespace.com but it is amazing.

I haven't seen it until today. Thanks.

[wagglebee]

LMAO!

[csvset]

I was thinking he looked like Hillary Swank from her role in Boys Don't Cry.

[Das Outsider]

I was thinking he looked like Hillary Swank from her role in Boys Don't Cry.



WHOA! We have a winner!

[csvset]

Scary, isn't it? Considering she was playing a gal who passed herself off as a guy.

[csvset]

Re: MySpace

I just happened to see this story.

MySpace.com Bragging Leads to Charges (Arson)