Oct 16, 2007 4:41 pm US/Eastern
Facebook Predator Sexually Abuses 13-Year-Old
Social Website Promises To Enforce Safeguards Against Predators
WESTCHESTER (CBS) ―
As New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced an agreement with Facebook to enforce safeguards against sexual predators on Tuesday, a 20-year-old Boston University student prepares to face charges for allegedly sexually abusing a 13-year-old Scarsdale girl he met on the Internet. James Bogush, originally from Ridgewood, New Jersey, is accused of inappropriately touching the girl in his car on October 7. He is due in Scarsdale Village Court Wednesday. According to Scarsdale police, Bogush met the girl in a chat room on Facebook, a social networking site. Lt. Bryant Clark of the Scarsdale Police said James told the girl he was a 16-year-old high school student, lying to entice the girl to meet him in a discreet location. The first weekend in October, according to Clark, Bogush drove from Boston University to meet the 13-year-old, who snuck out of her home on two occasions to see him. After their first encounter ended with a kiss, the next night is when, according to Clark, the sexual violation occurred. "He forcibly touched her private areas," Clark said. Bogush was charged with second-degree sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a minor, both misdemeanors. Scarsdale Village Justice John Galloway issued an order of protection that bans Bogush from contacting the girl. It's the latest assault involving young people who met via social networking sites. Attorney General Cuomo investigated Facebook, and felt it wasn't doing enough to protect young users. Tuesday, the company cut a deal. According to the agreement, when users complain about inappropriate activity, Facebook will respond to complaints within 24-hours and will investigate and report back within 72-hours.
A 3rd party to monitor the complaint process will be allowed to intervene if necessary. "When you put the disclosures, together with the new complaint review process, together with the independent safety examiner, I think it's fair to say that Facebook will have the safest interaction of its kind in the marketplace," said Cuomo. Although the deal adds protection for the users, nothing can replace the security of direct parental supervision of teens while using the sites. Not everyone on the internet has good intentions, something too many teens have learned the hard way.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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