Riverside/Big Bear, CA, March 5, 2012, 2:00pm – Last week, Valley News reported on the trial of an Orange County man accused of using Facebook and MySpace to arrange meetings with young girls whom he photographed nude, resulting in at least one alleged rape. Joshua David Threlkeld, 34, is accused of posing as a 13-year-old girl on Internet sites using the fictitious name of “Sara Miller” to initiate communication with girls on-line. Court documents allege the defendant targeted girls between 11 and 17 years old, contacting most of them between August 2007 and the winter of 2009. After establishing a rapport with the girls, he allegedly would attempt to talk them into meeting for photo sessions in order to make money. The prosecutor alleged that some girls turned him down flat, while others expressed an interest, leading to face-to-face encounters between the defendant and his alleged victims. Most of the girls who met the defendant were from Corona, Hemet, Moreno Valley, Palm Springs, Romoland and Winchester, according to the prosecution. Threlkeld allegedly set up photography sessions at his Orange home, in San Jacinto and in Palm Springs. Threlkeld could face multiple life sentences if convicted of the 103 felony and misdemeanor charges in connection with 50 alleged victims though prosecutors believe the actual number of victims is in excess of 100. To help educate parents on how to keep one step ahead of your teen and their use of the Internet, Big Bear’s Common Ground will be holding a workshop on Wednesday, March 21st from 6:30pm to 8pm at Community Church. The workshop is entitled “Internet Safeguards”. Common Ground is dedicated to strengthening families by making the most up-to-date, practical and effective parenting techniques easily accessible for even the busiest of parents. For more information or to register for the “Internet Safeguards” workshop call 909-521-1766.
