Pennsylvania – Page 60

Families Cautioned About Internet Safety as New School Year Begins

Posted on August 26, 2012 by admin

HARRISBURG, PA — Agents from the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit have made two arrests, including a Bucks County man who allegedly propositioned an undercover agent who was using the online identity of a teenage girl and traveled to meet the “girl” for sex, along with an Allegheny County man accused of sending sexually graphic webcam videos to what he believed was a 14-year old girl.

Attorney General Linda Kelly identified the defendants as Amitkumar P. Manvar, age 28, of 3241 Hulmeville Road, Bensalem, Bucks County and Robert Adam Kaduck II, age 27, of 991 Thompson Run Road, Harwick, Allegheny County.

Kelly cautioned parents to regularly discuss Internet safety with their children, especially as a new school year begins. She noted that these two most recent arrests highlight the types of dangers children can face online, including a suspect who allegedly arranged a meeting for sex less than a day after making initial online contact, along with another man accused of sending extremely graphic webcam videos of various sex acts soon after approaching an undercover agent who was using the profile of a 14-year old girl.

“Predators will take advantage of any available opportunity to identify and communicate with potential victims,” Kelly said. “The start of a new school year results in new activities, new friends and new schedules for young teens, and may extend the amount of time they are left unsupervised, either before or after school.”
Amitkumar P. Manvar

Kelly said that Manvar allegedly used an Internet chat room to approach an undercover agent from the Child Predator Unit on August 22^nd, identifying himself as a 27-year old from the Bensalem area. During that initial conversation Manvar asked the “girl” if her mother was home and if she had a boyfriend.

According to the criminal complaint, Manvar contacted the agent again the following morning, stating, “I am coming to your area,” and explained the sex acts he wished to perform if they could meet.

A short time after that online chat, Manvar allegedly arrived at a predetermined meeting location in Montgomery County, driving a car that matched the description he provided online. When he arrived at the meeting location Manvar allegedly exited his vehicle and waved to a female undercover agent who was waiting nearby.

Manvar is charged with one count of unlawful contact with a minor (related to involuntary deviate sexual intercourse), a first-degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

Additionally, Manvar is charged with one count of criminal use of a communications facility, a third-degree felony punishable by up to seven years in prison and a $15,000 fine.

Manvar was preliminarily arraigned before Collegeville Magisterial District Judge Cathleen Kelly Rebar and lodged in the Montgomery County Prison in lieu of $100,000 cash bail. He was also ordered to surrender his Indian passport and is prohibited from having any unsupervised contact with minors.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 29^th, at 1:30 p.m., before Magisterial District Judge Rebar.

Kelly thanked the Lower Providence Township Police Department for their cooperation and assistance with this investigation.

Manvar will be prosecuted in Montgomery County by Deputy Attorney General Christopher Jones of the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit.
Robert Adam Kaduck II

Kelly said that Kaduck allegedly used an online chat service to approach an undercover agent on July 16^th, initially identifying himself as a 20-year old. During their initial online conversation Kaduck allegedly requested photos of the undercover agent and sent pictures of himself in what Kaduck described as “girly slutt outfits.”

According to the criminal complaint, Kaduck engaged in a series of sexually graphic online chats over the next several days and also sent a number of explicit webcam videos which showed him engaging in various sex acts. Kaduck also allegedly proposed traveling to Harrisburg, where he believed the undercover agent lived.

Kaduck was arrested in Allegheny County on August 23^rd by agents from the Child Predator Unit and transported to Harrisburg after waiving extradition.

Kaduck is charged with two counts of unlawful contact with a minor (related to obscene and sexual materials or performances) and one count of criminal use of a communications facility, all third-degree felonies which are each punishable by up to seven years in prison and $15,000 fines.

Kaduck was preliminarily arraigned in Dauphin County Night Court and lodged in the Dauphin County Prison in lieu of $500,000 bail.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 31^st before Magisterial district Judge Steven M. Semic.

Kaduck will be prosecuted in Dauphin County by Deputy Attorney General Christopher Jones of the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit.
Internet Safety

Kelly noted that the Child Predator Unit has made 311 arrests since it was created in 2005.

Kelly urged parents to regularly discuss Internet safety and security issues with their children, including the importance of telling a trusted adult if someone engages in inappropriate online activity, such as:

Sexual discussions.
Sending or requesting nude photos or explicit videos.
Sharing links to pornography.
Trying to arrange face-to-face meetings.

Additionally, Kelly said parents and other caregivers should also monitor how kids are using the Internet, including:

Checking the websites they use frequently.
Searching the social networking sites they visit.
Asking them to show you their online profiles on Facebook and other websites.
Discussing the items they may be posting online.

Kelly also encouraged parents to stress the importance of not sharing personal information online, like full names, ages, addresses, phone numbers and school information, and added that children should always be especially cautious about strangers who approach them online.

Suspected internet predators can be reported to the Attorney General’s Office by clicking on the “Report a Predator” link, located on the front page of the Attorney General’s website, or by calling the toll-free Child Predator Hotline at 1-800-385-1044.
(A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty)

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Editors’ Note:
Photos of the defendants are attached below.
Click here to view the criminal complaint for Amitkumar P. Manvar.
Click here to view the criminal complaint for Robert A. Kaduck II.
If you have trouble viewing these items contact the Attorney General’s Press Office at 717-787-5211.

Thank You Philadelphia Folk Festival Volunteers

Posted on August 21, 2012August 21, 2012 by admin

The 2012 Philadelphia Folk Festival was an overwhelming success due in large part to all the volunteers. There are approximately 2,000 direct volunteers for the event, as well as, an additional 2,000 ancillary volunteers.

Philadelphia Folk Festival Shuttle Crew Volunteers
The Skippack Lions Club runs a charity food booth )staffed by ancillary volunteers) that raises money to help children.

To all Skippack Lions 2012 Folk Fest Volunteers:

A HUGE THANK YOU from the Skippack Lions for making the 2012 Charity Folk Fest Food Booth a good year (still tallying the final numbers). We can’t do this without all of you great volunteers! We appreciate the help from each and every one of you for your volunteer efforts from Booth Set-Up/Tear Down to Hoagie Making to Working the Booth.

Remember, the funds we raise help many people in many ways from supporting the Visually Impaired, Diabetes Awareness, Veterans Charities (Fisher House), Beacon Lodge Camp for Visually Impaired Kids, Local College Scholarships and many more local, regional and world wide programs. By helping us, you help make a difference in your community too!

We hope to see you next year!

Thank you!

Steve Radomski, Folk Fest Chairman and Jerry Brock, President, Skippack Lions Club
www.SkippackLions.org

Vacation Planning for Family Caregivers

Posted on July 24, 2012 by admin

Jenkintown, Pennsylvania – This is the time of year that many of us look forward to summer vacation – a much-needed break from our day-to-day responsibilities and an opportunity to rest, have fun and re-charge. Unfortunately, it is often the people who are most in need of some time off – those with the largest amount of work and/or family responsibilities – who find it the hardest to get away. Family caregivers – spouses caring for husbands or wives, or adult children or grandchildren caring for elderly relatives – often fall into this category.

If you are the part-time or full-time caregiver for an elderly loved one, it is understandable to feel overwhelmed, or even a little guilty, about leaving town for a few days or weeks. However, it is also important to understand the significance of maintaining your own health and how taking vacations – even short ones – can do wonders for warding off the physical and emotional effects of caregiver stress. With proper planning, and use of the right resources, it is possible to enjoy a fun and relaxing trip knowing your loved one will still receive all of the care they need. Here are a few suggestions to help you get away.

If your loved one already resides in a retirement community, assisted living or nursing facility, make sure you inform their care team of your travel plans. Leave behind a copy of your itinerary, your contact information, as well as the contact information for another local family member or friend to call in the event of an emergency.

If your loved one still lives in their own home, but you regularly assist with errands such as grocery shopping or provide transportation to doctor’s appointments, you will need to find someone who can reliably fill-in for you while you are gone. Another family member, friend, neighbor, or a paid home health caregiver are all options to consider.

No matter who will be assuming your responsibilities while you’re away, you will want to be sure to sit down and write out a detailed list of everything you do in your role as caregiver along with instructions of when and how you perform each task. Include a list of all of your loved one’s doctors with contact information, a detailed list of medications and dosage instructions, and who to call in the event of an emergency. Leave one copy of this information home with your fill-in caregiver and take a copy with you. Again, leave behind a copy of your travel itinerary and your emergency contact information.

If you are providing full-time care for your loved one, it may be in both of your best interests to hire professional respite care. There are different kinds of respite care to consider; the best option will be determined by the amount and type of care your loved one requires.

• In-home respite – provided by non-medical home care agencies, such as Visiting Angels, to help with hygiene, meal preparation/diet monitoring, light housekeeping, errands, shopping and companionship. In-home care can be part-time or full-time based on the needs of the person receiving the care
• Adult day-care centers – if you can arrange transportation and overnight care for your loved one, many churches and community centers provide adult day-care services to care for and engage seniors during the day
• Short-term nursing homes – some nursing homes will care for patients on a temporary basis in the event their regular caregiver is out of town
• Day hospitals – if your loved one requires medical care, some hospitals have programs that provide care to patients during the day. Again, you will need to make other arrangements for overnight care and transportation

Everyone is entitled to a break now and then. For a family caregiver, taking a vacation may mean extra planning and expense, but it is also a necessity if you are to stay at your mental and physical best as you care for your loved one. To learn more about the support services available in your area, contact your local Area Agency on Aging (AAA) or Visiting Angels at 215-938-7201 or www.visitingangels.com/jenkintown.