Uber, Lyft, taxi drivers to get sex trafficking awareness training

The Seattle City Council approved legislation that  "...will lead to a requirement that for-hire drivers, including those with Uber and Lyft, receive sex trafficking awareness training as part of their county licensing process. A training program that will teach drivers not only to spot potential sex trafficking victims and survivors but also how to report such instances and provide victims with information about support services.

Support Freedom13 for FREE

Would you like a way to support Freedom13 and help stop domestic minor sex trafficking, and it cost you zero? If you shop at Amazon, you can take a few extra steps one time and help Freedom13. 

1.  Sign in to your regular Amazon account and click Accounts and Lists (on the right side of your screen), then look at Lists and go down the List to you see AmazonSmile Charity Lists and click.

2. In the search box type Freedom 13. Be sure and add a space between Freedom and 13.  When you see Freedom 13, just click and you’re done!

3. When you want to shop with Amazon, type smile.amazon.com. That’s it, all done! You’ll receive the same products and the same prices as the regular Amazon. The only difference is Freedom13 will receive 0.5% of qualified purchases.

Thank you for helping us. We would appreciate your sharing this with your friends.

Thanks,

Gene & Sandy Hill

Directors, Freedom13

Worried About Alexa?

If you are concerned about your kids using Alexa in your home you should read the article on this link. She has actual experience using it with her four kids and her husband helped develop Alexa. She suggests:

• Turn on explicit filters for music services
• Consider blocking drop-ins from outside your home
• Turn off Alexa on any Kindle Fire tablets to prevent searching skills
• Consider turning off voice profiles

Let me add, if you have a friend named Alexis you might forgo the "Alexa, play Here Comes Santa Claus," jokes.

Freedom13 Presented at SharedHope's JuST Conference

Attendees came from all fifty states and three foreign countries. Gene's talk included a specific plan to make a Safer Teen Internet.

Freedom13 Presenting at JuST International Conference

Freedom13 Co-Director, Gene Hill, was chosen this year to be one of the speakers at the Just International Conference sponsored by Shared Hope. The Dangers of Social Media Now and in The Future--So Let’s Fix it! will be the title of his presentation.  Gene is available to speak to your organization on this important topic on how to keep our teens safe on the internet. ContactUs@Freedom13.org to schedule a date and time.

PORT ORCHARD — A man convicted of exchanging sex for money with a 16-year-old runaway, and filming her, was sentenced earlier this month to seven years in prison.A woman accused of working as a prostitute and pimping the teen to the man was sentenced to more than nine years. Both Travis Shon Beach, 46, and Melissa Franchesca Johnson, 25, pleaded guilty to crimes stemming from encounters in 2017. (Kitsap Sun, July 21, 2019)

Four women arrested following months-long Kitsap County prostitution investigation

After a months-long investigation into alleged prostitution at Kitsap County massage businesses, officers on Thursday arrested four women. Kitsap County sheriff’s detectives served search warrants at four massage businesses in Bremerton, Silverdale, and Poulsbo. More arrests are anticipated, according to a statement from the office.

In addition to WestNet and sheriff’s office detectives, officers from Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Poulsbo Police Department, the state Department of Corrections, Washington State Patrol, the FBI and the Bremerton Police Department participated in the investigation and arrests. (Kitsap Sun, June 21, 2019)

Sex offender sentenced to 18 years for assaulting girl he was babysitting

PORT ORCHARD — A 64-year-old registered sex offender was sentenced earlier this month to 18 years to life in prison after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a young girl he was trusted to babysit. In 1997, Henderson was convicted in Pierce County of first-degree rape of a child. Like the more recent case, Henderson was accused of sexually assaulting a girl known to him. (Kitsap Sun, June 20, 2019)

Freedom13 to Present at JuST Conference

Shared Hope selected Gene as one of only two to present on the dangers of Social Media at their international JuST Conference in October. He will present how popular apps are used by traffickers to recruit victims. A Digital Bill of Rights for Minors and a proposed change in the structure of the Internet will add teeth to making our children safe.

DVD Series to Conquer Porn Adiction

This highly rated series helps men overcome their addiction to pornography. It was developed by a fighter pilot out of his own struggles. Freedom13 is working with local pastors and churches to implement support groups.

Oregon Sex Trafficking Arrests

Following a tip, police found a 15 and an 18-year-old victim in a motel room. Both are back with their families and two traffickers arrested. Click here for details.

17 Children Recovered, 82 Arrested

Southern U.S. child sex sting

Among the 82 arrested in the massive, multi-state operation were a firefighter, a business owner, and a dishwasher.

The operation began four months ago and culminated in three days of investigative actions to include search warrant executions, undercover operations, arrests and sex offender compliance verification visits in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.  

For details, click here.

Retired Navy Seals Save Children from Trafficking

A San Diego-based group of ex-Navy Seals, police detectives, and other specialists’ expertise in investigation, surveillance, and police collaboration, has assisted in 57 successful child recoveries over 36 months, according to the SIAM (Saved in America) website. The group also connects the rescued juveniles with treatment and rehabilitation options. For more information click here.

Safety Warning

Two children narrowly avoided being kidnapped. The mother left the keys in the ignition while she helped someone into the emergency room. In ten seconds a man jumped into the car and drove off with the children in the back. They saved themselves by jumping out while the car was moving. The moral is; don’t leave keys in the ignition for even a short time especially with children in the car.

Washington Bill to Crack Down on Traffickers

Governor Inslee signed a bill that allows traffickers who attempt to contact a saved victim to be arrested without a lengthy warrant process.

Lights, Camera, Action!

Saturday, April 6th, Gene and Sandy Hill will be signing books at the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma from 10-5.  Profits from the sale of books go to fund Freedom13.

Then they are being interviewed on BKAT  at 6 pm by the Kitsap Literary Artists and Writers. That is channel 12 on Comcast and channel 3 on WaveCable. 

Please let your friends know about both.

Net Nanny Nets 22 Buyers

The Washington State Patrol arrested 22 suspected dangerous sexual predators during a multi-day sting operation in Thurston County this month.
"Twenty-two dangerous sexual predators who targeted children in Thurston County were removed from the streets, thanks to a multi-day operation run by the Washington State Patrol (WSP) and several partner agencies," the press release says. Those arrested include one 17-year-old from Olympia and three from Joint Base Lewis McChord.
This was the 15th operation known as "Operation Net Nanny," led by the WSP's Missing and Exploited Children Task Force (MECTF), an Internet Crimes Against Children affiliate. 
From Feb. 15-20, undercover officers used websites and apps to contact to communicate with people interested in having sex with children, said WSP in a news release. 

Happy Anniversary Circle of Friends

It was our honor and privilege to be your guest speakers for your celebration. The Circle of Friends is a group of awesome women who support many different nonprofit organizations and make a difference in our community. In this day and age when we are bombarded with negative news, be encouraged there are individuals who can come together to be a positive influence and make a difference. We appreciate you and thank you!