Former Resident Advisor Indicted in MySpace Molestation of Minor

Recent University graduate and former Maria's Tower Resident Advisor Sonny I. Szeto was arrested in late February on charges of molesting a minor he met on the popular networking website, myspace.com. According to the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut, Szeto has been indicted on two counts: one for using the Internet to persuade a minor to engage in sexual activity and one count of traveling in interstate commerce for the purpose of attempting to have and having illicit sexual conduct with a minor.

Arrested in his Astoria, Queens home on Feb. 24, Szeto was detained until his court hearing on Mar. 2, 2006, when he was released on a $600,000 bond. Upon his release, Szeto was relocated to his parents' home in Nashua, New Hampshire, which is where he must stay except for when he has to attend legal appointments or court hearings. Szeto. Alongside consenting to having his Astoria home and his parents' residence searched, Szeto is not allowed to use the Internet or a cell phone. The Connecticut Post also reported that Szeto must wear an electronic monitoring device.

Both charges carry possible sentences between five years and 30 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000. In addition, if he is charged with traveling to engage in sexual conduct with a minor, he could also be sentenced to a possible lifetime of supervision upon release.

Szeto is one of two men facing charges in Connecticut courts involving sexual activity with minors met through myspace.com. Stephen Letavec, 39, of Pennsylvania was arrested after attempting to engage in sexual relations with a 14 year-old girl he met of myspace.com.

According to statements from the Attorney General's office, documents were filled in the courts during Sept. and Oct. '05 alleging Szeto made three visits during October to the home of an 11-year old girl. According to MSNBC, Szeto was residing in Jersey City, N.J. when he visited the girl. He has been accused of molesting the girl in her playroom while her parents were sleeping. Szeto is also accused of having chatted with the girl on AOL's instant messenger service, viewed webcam photos of her and had multiple telephone conversations with her.

The Connecticut Post reported that a friend of the girl witnessed one of Szeto's sleepovers and reported the incident to the girl's parents.

Myspace.com, a division of News Corp. owned by Rupert Murdoch, has approximately 54 millions members who seek online friends by viewing personal information and photos. Although the site prohibits minors, 13 and under, from registering, many post a fake age while registering on the site. According to a statement released by mspace.com, the site works with law enforcement and supports the prosecution of Szeto and others charged with molestation.

CBS News reported that Federal Bureau of Investigation Agent Thomas Veivia said, "MySpace should be completely innocent. Children should be allowed to go on MySpace and meet their own peers and have conversations with them. But the people with nefarious intentions exploit that technology and target our children."

According to the United States Attorney's Office, the FBI and the Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force is investigating these cases. Assistant United States Attorney James Filan will be leading the prosecution case. Assistant United States Public Defender Deirdre Murray will defend Szeto.