web1_web1_police-lights20181993941226-1.jpg

Police Blotter

web1_Finn.cmyk_.jpg

Accused firebomber found guilty in separate assault case

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey this week said no family should have to go through what the Zezzo family of Bucks County did.</p><p>Toomey, along with U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, introduced legislation to increase criminal penalties for the stalking of children and to ensure law enforcement officials evaluate and update practices to combat online harassment of children.</p><p>Toomey said the legislation was inspired by the Zezzo family, whose teen daughter was cyber-stalked by a friend&#8217;s father on social media. Despite the stalking being sexual in nature, the then-51-year-old stalker pleaded guilty only to a misdemeanor stalking charge and was sentenced to probation and counseling. Three years later, in 2016, the same stalker began making contact again. This time, he was arrested in a sting by local police and sentenced to 18 months to seven years in a state prison.</p><p>&#8220;No family should have to go through what the Zezzos have,&#8221; Toomey said. &#8220;Enacting this bipartisan measure to strongly punish deviants who exploit the internet to terrorize children is a necessary and common-sense step Congress should take.&#8221;</p><p>Toomey, R-Lehigh Valley, Casey, D-Scranton, and Fitzpatrick, R-Philadelphia, said the bipartisan Combat Online Predators Act enhances criminal penalties for stalkers by up to five years if the victim is a minor. Furthermore, the legislation calls for the U.S. Attorney General and U.S. Department of Justice to produce an evaluation of federal, state, and local efforts to enforce laws relating to stalking and identify and describe elements of these enforcement efforts that constitute best practices.</p><p>&#8220;This bipartisan legislation would give law enforcement and judges additional tools to keep young victims safe from adults who have stalked them and targeted them online,&#8221; Casey said. &#8220;Stalking and cyber-stalking offenses are uniquely invasive and distressing for victims and their families, especially when the victim is a minor.&#8221;</p><p>Fitzpatrick said legislators &#8220;have no higher responsibility than to protect our kids.&#8221; Fitzpatrick is the only former FBI Supervisory Special Agent and federal prosecutor in Congress.</p><p>U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Florida, co-author of the Combat Online Predators Act, said adults who stalk or harass children online or anywhere else commit a serious crime.</p><p>&#8220;And our bill will ensure federal judges can give convicted defendants the prison sentence they deserve,&#8221; Murphy said.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_U.S.-rep.-Brian-Fitzpatrick.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Fitzpatrick </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_U.S.-rep.-Brian-Fitzpatrick.jpg</photo0><caption0>Fitzpatrick </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_TTL022018Casey1CMYK-1-.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Casey </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_TTL022018Casey1CMYK-1-.jpg</photo1><caption1>Casey </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_Toomey-10-09-2016_mug-cmyk-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Toomey </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_Toomey-10-09-2016_mug-cmyk-1.jpg</photo2><caption2>Toomey </caption2><photoCredit2></photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Toomey, Casey team to introduce cyber-stalking bill