Bellefonte man, man using fake name as karate instructor arrested by Delaware Child Predator Task Force
By DJ McAneny 5:32pm, March 12, 2015
The Delaware Department of Justice's Child Predator Task Force announced Thursday the arrests of two area men as a result of two separate investigations.
In the first case, an undercover investigation led to the arrest of a Maryland man working in Delaware as a martial arts instructor under the false name "Mark Hafer"--to avoid informing anyone he was a registered sex offender.
The man, identified as 37-year-old James Blankenship, Jr., of Barclay, was arrested on February 27, 2015, and extradited to Delaware.
He allegedly began a chat conversation with an undercover investigator on social media, then moved to texting. Police communicated to Blankenship "numerous times," that he was talked to an underage boy, which he indicating was fine, police said.
Blankenship was convicted in Maryland in 2006 for sexual abuse of a minor. He was employed as a Maryland certified police officer at the time of that arrest.
Blankenship was charged with two counts sexual solicitation of a minor and committed to James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in lieu of $100,000 bail.
On March 10, the task force and a Delaware State Trooper executed a search warrant at 1223 Kynlyn Drive near Bellefonte.
Authorities said they were investigating the distribution of child pornography from the residence, and took into custody Samuel Diamond, 29, at the location.
Diamond said he lived alone at the residence and owned all the electronics and computers in the residence, police said. A forensic preview showed more than 25 images or videos of child pornography on several devices.
He was charged with 25 counts of dealing in child pornography and committed to James T. Vaughn Correctional Center on $500,000 secured bond
By DJ McAneny 5:32pm, March 12, 2015
The Delaware Department of Justice's Child Predator Task Force announced Thursday the arrests of two area men as a result of two separate investigations.
In the first case, an undercover investigation led to the arrest of a Maryland man working in Delaware as a martial arts instructor under the false name "Mark Hafer"--to avoid informing anyone he was a registered sex offender.
The man, identified as 37-year-old James Blankenship, Jr., of Barclay, was arrested on February 27, 2015, and extradited to Delaware.
He allegedly began a chat conversation with an undercover investigator on social media, then moved to texting. Police communicated to Blankenship "numerous times," that he was talked to an underage boy, which he indicating was fine, police said.
Blankenship was convicted in Maryland in 2006 for sexual abuse of a minor. He was employed as a Maryland certified police officer at the time of that arrest.
Blankenship was charged with two counts sexual solicitation of a minor and committed to James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in lieu of $100,000 bail.
On March 10, the task force and a Delaware State Trooper executed a search warrant at 1223 Kynlyn Drive near Bellefonte.
Authorities said they were investigating the distribution of child pornography from the residence, and took into custody Samuel Diamond, 29, at the location.
Diamond said he lived alone at the residence and owned all the electronics and computers in the residence, police said. A forensic preview showed more than 25 images or videos of child pornography on several devices.
He was charged with 25 counts of dealing in child pornography and committed to James T. Vaughn Correctional Center on $500,000 secured bond
http://www.wmdt.com/news/more-local-news/Former-police-officer-arrested-on-sexual-solicitation-charges/31765062
Former police officer arrested on sexual solicitation charges
Leanne Murray
POSTED: 06:09 PM EDT Mar 12, 2015
DELAWARE -
A former Maryland Police Officer is behind bars, after he reportedly solicited a minor for sex. The Delaware Department of Justice's Child Predator Task Force says on February 27th, they arrested 37-year-old James Blankenship, and extradited him back to Delaware.
Investigators say Blankenship, a martial arts instructor in Newark working under the fake name of Mark Hafer, had started chatting with an undercover investigator on a social network, before the conversation moved to texting. Blankenship was reportedly told several times that he was talking with a minor, but said he was fine with it.
Police say in Maryland Blankenship had a previous conviction in 2006 for sexual abuse of a minor, and worked as a certified police officer at the time of that arrest. Blankenship was apparently using the false name to avoid being detected as registered sex offender.
He has now been charged with two counts of sexual solicitation of a minor, and is being held at James T. Vaughn Correctional Center on $100,000 cash bail.
Former police officer arrested on sexual solicitation charges
Leanne Murray
POSTED: 06:09 PM EDT Mar 12, 2015
DELAWARE -
A former Maryland Police Officer is behind bars, after he reportedly solicited a minor for sex. The Delaware Department of Justice's Child Predator Task Force says on February 27th, they arrested 37-year-old James Blankenship, and extradited him back to Delaware.
Investigators say Blankenship, a martial arts instructor in Newark working under the fake name of Mark Hafer, had started chatting with an undercover investigator on a social network, before the conversation moved to texting. Blankenship was reportedly told several times that he was talking with a minor, but said he was fine with it.
Police say in Maryland Blankenship had a previous conviction in 2006 for sexual abuse of a minor, and worked as a certified police officer at the time of that arrest. Blankenship was apparently using the false name to avoid being detected as registered sex offender.
He has now been charged with two counts of sexual solicitation of a minor, and is being held at James T. Vaughn Correctional Center on $100,000 cash bail.