It started innocently.
Beth was playing a video game on her 15-year-old daughterB次元官网网址檚 cellphone, when a text message arrived from a guy.
It didnB次元官网网址檛 sit right. Suspicious about its sender, Beth texted back, unbeknownst to her daughter.
B次元官网网址淎ll I had to do to act like a 15-year-old girl was drop my vocabulary, add a few B次元官网网址榶eahsB次元官网网址� and smiley faces,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 had the guy convinced.B次元官网网址�
She learned the man was 24, that he met her daughter on Nexopia, a social networking site. She also learned her daughter had sent him explicit photos of herself.
B次元官网网址淚 texted him and said B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址榊ou know IB次元官网网址檓 15, right? You donB次元官网网址檛 have a problem with that, do you?B次元官网网址� He said, B次元官网网址楴o, of course not, baby.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
The name Beth is a pseudonym used to protect her daughterB次元官网网址檚 identity, in compliance with a publication ban imposed by the court.
Over five days, starting July 8, Beth exchanged dozens of messages with the man, with the goal of gathering enough evidence to secure a conviction. His intentions, she said, were B次元官网网址渓ewd and crude sexual acts.B次元官网网址�
When he initiated sexual texting, she invited him over on a premise of being at home alone.
B次元官网网址淚 thought I better get this guy over here, and I better talk to him,B次元官网网址� explained Beth.
On July 13, he agreed to take the bus to BethB次元官网网址檚 house. At first she wanted her own justice, but then had second thoughts and called police.
Waiting by the door, holding pepper spray and wearing steel-toed boots, she didnB次元官网网址檛 know who would arrive first.
B次元官网网址淢y mother bear instincts kicked in, and I was just ready to take down somebody who presented a potential harm to my children.B次元官网网址�
Another text arrived: he was down the street and on his way.
She ran out the door to meet him halfway, but police arrived first.
Victoria police Const. Mike Russell confirmed police arrested Neil F., last name withheld, and confiscated his computer. He is charged with Internet luring of a person under 16, and invitation to sexual touching of a person under 16. His next court appearance is Oct. 15.
B次元官网网址淚 want children to be aware. I want mothers to be aware,B次元官网网址� said Beth, who has had serious conversations with her daughter about safety and the Internet.
B次元官网网址⑩赌⑩赌�
But this isnB次元官网网址檛 a simple story about combatting Internet predation.
ItB次元官网网址檚 also a tale about another mother going to great lengths to keep her son out of harmB次元官网网址檚 way.
Fiona Gow, a lawyer based in Oak Bay, adopted Neil as a baby.
B次元官网网址�(NeilB次元官网网址檚 natural mother) was honest. She told me sheB次元官网网址檇 consumed alcohol and drugs during the initial part of the pregnancy,B次元官网网址� said Gow.
As a young child, Neil would light fires and call 911 when they got out of control. His fetal alcohol syndrome didnB次元官网网址檛 allow him to see the consequences in advance.
When calm, he was loving and caring, but when overwhelmed, heB次元官网网址檇 explode.
He needed constant support. But when he turned 19, the provincial government ruled he no longer qualified for funding because his IQ of 79 was too high.
Gow took her case to the B.C. Supreme Court.
B次元官网网址淭hey couldnB次元官网网址檛 just apply a blanket IQ test for determining who would or would not be eligible for services,B次元官网网址� Gow said.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 so much more involved in what allows a person to function well and safely in society and their capacity to care for themselves. NeilB次元官网网址檚 (capacity) is unfortunately very low.B次元官网网址�
GowB次元官网网址檚 successful case made headlines, and NeilB次元官网网址檚 words at the time were sadly prophetic.
B次元官网网址淚f I didnB次元官网网址檛 have support, I would choose the wrong way,B次元官网网址� he was quoted as saying in 2006.
Now, one of GowB次元官网网址檚 main concerns is that Neil be able to keep his private housing.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e really hoping that what happened with this young girl doesnB次元官网网址檛 put that in jeopardy, because it would be quite devastating for him and us if he were to lose his current accommodation.B次元官网网址�
Despite winning continued funding through the courts, Gow and her husband are NeilB次元官网网址檚 primary support system. No support worker checks in on him.
Recently, Gow met him for lunch, as she tries to do every week.
B次元官网网址淗e said to me heB次元官网网址檇 really like to have a steady relationship with someone, and thatB次元官网网址檚 really whatB次元官网网址檚 behind it (the charges). ItB次元官网网址檚 that real need for companionship, because heB次元官网网址檚 not predatory.B次元官网网址�
But, Gow added, B次元官网网址淚 can certainly understand from (BethB次元官网网址檚) point of view, sheB次元官网网址檇 think heB次元官网网址檚 a monster.B次元官网网址�
Neil didnB次元官网网址檛 know about legal age of consent, Gow said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 sorry to say, it wasnB次元官网网址檛 something weB次元官网网址檇 ever discussed with him B次元官网网址� It would be so much better if he were living with us but itB次元官网网址檚 just too difficult.B次元官网网址�
As a result of the charges, NeilB次元官网网址檚 Internet has been cut off and his cellphone confiscated.
B次元官网网址⑩赌⑩赌�
BethB次元官网网址檚 daughterB次元官网网址檚 Internet access is also restricted with a password, and her cellphone taken away.
It has been an experience that cuts deep for Beth. Back when she was 15, she hooked up with a 33-year-old man.
B次元官网网址淗ad somebody stepped in, I wouldnB次元官网网址檛 have done the things I did,B次元官网网址� she said.
Beth got pregnant and eventually fled with their one-year-old daughter to escape the manB次元官网网址檚 abuse.
Now that one year old is 15 years old.
Since the arrest, sheB次元官网网址檚 been terrified and had nightmares, said Beth.
B次元官网网址淎 few days after, my daughter was weeding the garden and she started crying, and she said B次元官网网址楳om, I was just thinking about all the moms who wouldnB次元官网网址檛 have done anything.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
BethB次元官网网址檚 stomach has also been churning constantly. But her perspective has evolved.
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think weB次元官网网址檙e the real victims here. I think Neil is the real victim B次元官网网址� I see him as someone needing help.B次元官网网址�
Integrated court
Neil F. has been referred to VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 Integrated Court, and is being supervised by a community response team.
The separate court stream deals exclusively with people suffering from mental illness, addiction and other vulnerabilities. Its aim is to ensure sentencing includes support networks to help break the cycle of crime.
Proceedings of the integrated court are closed to the public. For this reason, the B次元官网网址 has decided to withhold the last name of the accused.
Did you know?
B次元官网网址� The age of consent refers to the age at which a young person can legally consent to sexual activity ranging from sexual touching (e.g., kissing) to sexual intercourse. The age of consent for sexual activity is 16 years, raised from 14 years in May 2008
B次元官网网址� Between 2003-04 to 2006-07, there were 17 people charged with both child luring and invitation to sexual touching in Canada. Of those, seven were found guilty.
