PTC police arrest man for child exploitation

Thu, 09/13/2007 - 3:13pm
By: The Citizen

A cruise ship waiter has become the 21st person arrested by Peachtree City police in an undercover sting targeted at people who use computers to prey on children, police said.

Zoltan Ferencz, 27, of the Republic of Slovakia, was arrested Tuesday after he traveled to Peachtree City to meet with an undercover officer whom he thought was a 14-year-old girl.

The Peachtree City investigation was conducted with help from the Douglasville Police Department and the Georgia Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce, police said

Police said Ferencz is charged with one count of violation of the computer pornography and child exploitation act.

Ferencz, who is currently in the U.S. on a tourist visa, is employed as a waiter on Princess Cruise Lines where he has worked for the past five years, police said.

Although 21 people have so far faced charges in the undercover sting since May 2004, not all of them have been brazen enough to come to Peachtree City to meet up with the "girl" they think is 14. Some, however, have shared pornographic images with the undercover detective via instant messaging or e-mail.

Peachtree City Police Chief James Murray encourages parents to insure their children only access the home computer in places where their activity can be observed. Parents can take advantage of special software that can provide copies of e-mail, instant messaging and other correspondence on-line.

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