Jackson Free Press

On Tuesday, March 13, 2007, at approximately 7:00 p.m., in Madison, Mississippi, Special Agents of the Jackson Division of the FBI and deputies of the Harrison County Sheriff's Office, assisted by the Madison County Sheriff's Department, arrested STEPHEN RANDY LUXFORD, age 52. A search warrant for LUXFORD's residence in Madison had been executed on March 2, 2007, in connection with this investigation.

According to a complaint filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, LUXFORD is alleged to have violated Title 18, United States Code, Section 2422, by knowingly enticing and coercing, via interstate communications, an individual under the age of 18 to engage in sexual activity. The affidavit filed in support of the complaint alleges that LUXFORD engaged in sexual acts with a 14-year-old girl who resided in Harrison County, Mississippi.
A federal warrant for LUXFORD's arrest was issued on March 12, 2007.

LUXFORD will appear before United States Magistrate Judge Robert Walker in Gulfport, Mississippi, for an initial appearance at 3:00 p.m. today.

If found guilty of the charges against him, LUXFORD could be sentenced to fines of up to $250,000, imprisonment for any term of years or life, or both.

Attorney General Roberto Gonzalez has stated that, "The threat [of pedophiles preying on children online, or abusing kids and sending images of the abuse around the world through the Internet] is frighteningly real ... it is growing rapidly, and it must be stopped. ..." According to statistics from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, one child (10 to 17-years-old) in every five is solicited online. Four percent received an aggressive sexual solicitation. 'Dateline' has estimated that, at any given time, 50,000 predators are on the Internet prowling for children.

As of today, the Jackson Division of the FBI has over 40 ongoing child exploitation investigations involving child pornography, coercion and enticement offenses.

Educating the public about the enticement threat is especially critical, because of the role parents, teachers and other influential adults can play in making sure children can use the Internet safely. In addition, through Project Safe Childhood, a Justice Department initiative aimed at combating the online exploitation and victimization of children, law enforcement at all levels will become more coordinated, better trained and more involved.

Stephen F. Gomez, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Mississippi, credited cooperation between the Harrison County Sheriff's Office and the FBI for the successful investigation of this matter.

Mr. Gomez stressed that the charges upon which the arrest of STEPHEN RANDY LUXFORD are premised are accusations only and there is a presumption of innocence prior to any judicial proceeding.

Previous Comments

ID

91457

Comment

This is the one kind of criminal I just can't stomach. Child molester, rapists and old folk's abuser if found guilty wouldn't want me to be the judge or prosecutors. Maybe not even as defense lawyer. Or maybe even a human being in close proximity!

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-03-13T16:22:35-06:00

ID

91458

Comment

Agreed, Ray. Now, I'm pretty much pro-life across the board: I don't believe in abortion or the death penalty. But, in this case, I will make an exception. Child molesters aspire to be scum of the earth.

Author

Lady Havoc

Date

2007-03-13T18:50:43-06:00

ID

91459

Comment

I think I said this somewhere before, but I think that child molesters and rapists should be castrated. To me, that's the only way to shut off that urge.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-03-13T20:47:07-06:00

ID

91460

Comment

Oh yeah...and a frontal lobotomy.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-03-13T20:54:48-06:00