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Child Exploitation

Police & Fire
Mass Man Who Admitted To Having Sex With 15-Year-Old Capital Region Girl Gets 25 Years: Feds Mass Man Who Admitted To Having Sex With 15-Year-Old Capital Region Girl Gets 25 Years: Feds
Mass Man Who Admitted To Having Sex With 15-Year-Old Capital Region Girl Gets 25 Years: Feds A Berkshire County man was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to the sexual exploitation of a child and traveling to New York with the intent to engage in unlawful sexual conduct, federal authorities said.  Frank Twing Sr., of West Stockbridge, learned his fate in Albany Federal Court after an investigation revealed his involvement in crimes against minors, the US Attorney for the Northern District of New York said. His sentence includes 25 years of supervised release following his prison term. The case stemmed from a January 2024 investigation by the Massach…

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by Josh Lanier
News
Meta's Community Notes To Use Tech From Elon Musk's Social Media Platform Meta's Community Notes To Use Tech From Elon Musk's Social Media Platform
Meta's Community Notes To Use Tech From Elon Musk's Social Media Platform Meta's new Community Notes system will be based on algorithms developed by billionaire Elon Musk's social media platform, the company said. Meta will begin testing the crowdsourced program that aims to prevent misinformation on Tuesday, Mar. 18, the tech giant said in a blog post on Thursday, Mar. 13. The move comes as Meta replaces its third-party fact-checking program in the US for Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. Community Notes are part of CEO Mark Zuckerberg's broader shift toward what he calls "free expression" on the company’s platforms. "We’re going to take time to …

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
NY Teacher Arrested For Sex Crime Charges Out Of VA: State Police NY Teacher Arrested For Sex Crime Charges Out Of VA: State Police
NY Teacher Arrested For Sex Crime Charges Out Of VA: State Police A 45-year-old teacher from Amherst, NY (Erie County) has been arrested for sex crimes stemming from Virginia, authorities said. Geoffrey J. Testa was arrested on a warrant for multiple felony child exploitation charges out of Fairfax, VA on Friday, Jan. 31, the New York State Police said. Testa is a teacher at Amherst Central High School. He was processed and taken to Erie County Holding Center on the arrest warrant awaiting extradition. Anyone with information can contact the NYSP at 585-344-6200

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by Cecilia Levine
Business
Meta Drops Fact-Checking Program Ahead Of Trump's White House Return, Company Says Meta Drops Fact-Checking Program Ahead Of Trump's White House Return, Company Says
Meta Drops Fact-Checking Program Ahead Of Trump's White House Return, Company Says Meta is dismantling its third-party fact-checking program in the U.S. and aims to bring back political content as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House, the company said. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the changes in a video statement on Tuesday, Jan. 7. The company that owns Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads, will replace its fact-checking program with a Community Notes system similar to the one implemented on X (formerly Twitter). Zuckerberg said the new system's goal is to reduce bias and restore free expression. "Fact-checkers have be…

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by Chris Spiker
News
7 Suspects Nabbed In Undercover Child Exploitation, Trafficking Detail In Region 7 Suspects Nabbed In Undercover Child Exploitation, Trafficking Detail In Region
7 Suspects Nabbed In Undercover Child Exploitation, Trafficking Detail In Region Seven suspects have been charged following an undercover child exploitation detail. It was conducted over several days by New York State Police and the FBI in Orange County, in the town of Wallkill. "The detail deployed highly trained Investigators and agents to infiltrate online platforms where these crimes are often facilitated," according to state police. "Utilizing advanced cyber tactics, Investigators and Agents were able to identify individuals attempting to exploit vulnerable children through the internet and meet them in person." As a result of the operation, the following ind…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Man Took 5-Year-Old To VA, Upstate NY For Sex: USDOJ Man Took 5-Year-Old To VA, Upstate NY For Sex: USDOJ
Man Took 5-Year-Old To VA, Upstate NY For Sex: Usdoj A 54-year-old Pennsylvania man has been sentenced after admitting to taking a 5-year-old girl for sex in Virginia and New York, the US Department of Justice announced on Wednesday, Sept. 25.  John Oathout, of Harrisburg, PA, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes in Syracuse, NY on Friday, Sept. 20. He'll serve 25 years in federal prison followed by 20 years of supervised release, and he'll be a registered sex offender for the remainder of his life, according to the USDOJ release.  Oathout admitted to taking the 5-year-old girl on trips out of state w…

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by Jillian Pikora