BOISE -- A Boise man was found guilty Thursday of enticing a child over the internet. Prosecutors say he was in a chat room last New Year’s Eve talking to who he thought was a 15-year-old girl in Nebraska. It was actually an undercover officer.
Todd Humiston, 47, exposed himself on a web cam and tried to sexually solicit a girl. Law enforcement in Nebraska contacted Boise police, who tracked him down and made the arrest.
The Ada County jury that convicted him was unanimous in its guilty verdict. Humiston will be sentenced in February. He faces up to 15 years in prison -- the maximum for enticing a child online.
Prosecutors say adults looking for children in chat rooms is common, and parents need to be especially aware. Chat room conversations are private and can only be seen those involved in the conversation.
"Adult materials like photos of adults, adult nudity can be sent to kids in these instant messages with just the click of a button so then your child is exposed to something that you're not privy to. You can't talk to them about it because maybe you as a parent really don't know," Ada County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Shelley Armstrong said.
To help parents keep an eye out for predators, The Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children task force has some tips. Red flags are if your child quickly minimizes a computer screen when you walk into a room, they get phone calls from strangers, or have new clothes and other items from unknown sources. Other things to watch for include if your child gets unusually upset when his or her time online is restricted and acts withdrawn.
Authorities say it's important to know what your child is up to online. They say look at their internet history and communicate with them. For more information, visit the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force site.
