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The Southern Hillsborough County Cybersafe Task Force has nabbed six more men trying to pick up investigators posing as young girls online, officials have announced.
Police also helped track down a lovelorn 14-year-old lured from Pelham to South Carolina, but they haven’t brought any charges in that case.
Police and prosecutors from around the region announced the task force’s formation in September, and also announced seven arrests they’d made to date.
Since then, officials said, police have given or scheduled cyber-safety talks at schools in Pelham, Hollis, Brookline and Merrimack, and investigators continue to troll the Web for pedophiles.
Hillsborough County Attorney Marguerite Wageling said she agreed with recent comments that law enforcement alone can’t cope with the problem of predators online – though she stressed police would do their part – and urged parents to educate themselves and their children.
Parents should monitor and review children’s cell phone and computer use, and make sure their children know better than to give out personal information, Wageling said.
“Sometimes you can’t be your children’s friend. You need to take action,” she said.
The six men arrested in recent months came from all walks of life: a butcher, a candle shop owner, a real estate investor, a corporate manager, a bus driver and a newspaper delivery driver, officials said.
“These are people all around you,” Wageling said. “They are regular folks. They just happen to prey on our children.”
In addition to the six arrests and one outstanding warrant, police in Pelham were able to help the parents of a missing 14-year-old girl track her down to South Carolina, by reviewing the girl’s communications on her home computer, officials said.
They learned that the girl had struck up an online romance with a 17-year-old boy, who traveled to New Hampshire and brought her back to South Carolina.
“She was in love, entranced with this individual,” Wageling said.
Police are still investigating that incident, and have yet to decide whether they will bring any charges against the boy, Chief Evan Haglund said.
All six men face charges of using computer or online services to solicit sex with a minor. The charge is a felony, punishable by up to 3½ to seven years in prison, though judges have been handing down far lesser sentences.
One man remains wanted, and is believed to be living in Colorado, police said. Kevin Dekalb, 31, formerly of Granville, N.Y., faces three counts of computer solicitation in New Hampshire, and also is wanted for similar offenses in Brattleboro, Vt., officials said.
Arrested in the sting were:
• Lawrence Dalphonse, 63, of 73 Stearns Brook Road, Milan, who was arrested Oct. 18, charged with soliciting sex with a minor online. His bail was set at $50,000.
• Gordon Lee Davis, 55, of 17 Old Marlow Road, Gilsum, who was arrested Sept. 16 after he traveled to Marlborough for a prearranged meeting. His bail was set at $25,000.
• Damien Ducharme, 22, of Bristol, Vt., who was arrested Nov. 17 after he arrived for a prearranged meeting in Lebanon. His bail was set at $25,000.
• James Gallagher, 50, of 6 Ashworth Ave., Hampton, who was arrested after he showed up for a meeting in Hudson on Nov. 1. His bail was set at $50,000.
• Barry Sullivan, 46, of 9 Williamsburg Road, Amherst, who was arrested in Merrimack after he showed up for a meeting Nov. 17. His bail was set at $25,000.
• Roland Strickland, 32, of 8 Cross St., Lincoln, who was arrested Oct. 13 after showing up for a meeting in Merrimack, and his bail was set at $25,000.
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