Federal prosecutors push to catch sexual predators

The recent prosecution of three men this past week for traveling across state lines to have sexual relations with minors has underlined the push by federal prosecutors here and across the country to go after child-sex predators who use the Internet.

The case of Mark Turner highlights how important catching online predators is, federal officials say. Turner was charged this week with traveling to Utah from his home in Idaho Falls to have sex with who he thought was a 13-year-old girl. Turner had unknowingly been corresponding via the Internet with an undercover officer.

Now police are investigating Turner in several sexual incidents involving two real minors as well as his possible connection to several missing children.

Brett Tolman, who was recently appointed the U.S. District Attorney for Utah, said he plans to make going after child-sex offenders a focus in his office to prevent another child death or kidnapping from happening. "Catch them sooner, punish them harder and watch them closer," Tolman said. His vision dovetails into a new federal initiative issued by U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez. Deemed Project Safe Childhood, the initiative will dedicate new resources to fighting crimes against children.

Tolman said Utah has been seen as a prime target for sexual predators. "We have a lot of children and we have a trusting citizenry," Tolman said. However, he said having a consistently strong policy of going after child-sex offenders will send a clear message that Utah's law enforcement will not tolerate such behavior.

Last week, a Salt Lake man was charged with taking a minor on a trip to Los Angeles for the purpose of having sex with her. Gilbert Medina, 37, faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years up to 30 years in federal prison if convicted. According to a federal complaint, federal agents found indications that Medina may have video taped portions of his activities with a minor in Los Angeles and at his condominium at the American Towers in Salt Lake City.

Medina appeared in court Wednesday to plead not guilty to the charge. U.S. District Magistrate Judge Paul Warner ordered Medina to continue to be held in federal custody during a bail hearing. Warner noted that Medina had told federal agents that he planned to "jump" once released on bail and noted a past history of failing to appear for court hearings when charged with drug possession in state court. Those charges were dropped by prosecutors.

A third man charged this week, Douglas Vandenbark, is accused of enticement for illegal sexual activity. According to charging documents, Vandenbark had asked repeatedly a person he thought was a 15-year-old girl to meet him for sex on an Internet chat room. That person was in reality an undercover officer.

Ultimately, federal agents claim Vandenbark, from Highland Rich, Colo., arranged to meet the girl at a location in North Salt Lake. When arrested, agents reported the man had candy for the girl as well as packets of condoms and a hotel key to a Provo area hotel.

If convicted, Vandenbark, 34, faces a mandatory sentence of 10 years up to 30 in federal prison.

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