The story of Joey Nelson certainly has generated a lot of interest at the Newberry Observer this week. Nelson, a 53-year-old Newberry man, was arrested for three counts of attempted solicitation of a minor. According to police reports, Nelson allegedly was chatting with 12 and 13-year-old girls online and performed a sex act in front of a webcam. Unbeknownst to him, he was actually chatting with some of Spartanburg's finest. As we were reporting this story, we debated how to tell it so that you, the reader, would understand the circumstances, while still being tasteful. What words should we use? How far would be too far in the description?

We argued, we fussed, we listened and then we came to an agreement. There needed to be descriptive language to give the reader an understanding about the depravity of the alleged act, which is why we reported that the accused act was in fact “masturbation.” Online predator stories are nothing new, and sadly enough aren't going away. We've all seen the “To Catch a Predator” stings on Dateline NBC. On those shows, crews from the online watchdog group PervertedJustice.com lure chatters into a scene that will end with a visit from Chris Hanson and a trip to jail. Most of the time, the bait is the fantasy that a young boy or girl is home alone and is a willing participant in a sexual encounter.

These shows produce such visceral reactions in viewers because children are involved and these predators are looking to take advantage of something sacred - a child's innocence. Many of us have children, and it's terrifying and infuriating to think that there are people out there that think so little of others that they would destroy lives for some sexual satisfaction - and my child or your child could be their next target. The Dateline specials are compelling because the viewers see the inner workings of the web that the chatters weave when arranging meetings. The language usually is graphic, but more often than not begins as a very safe, friendly chat about just being a kid.

Once the adult gets the person on the other end of the conversation to trust him, the chat usually heads in a sexual direction and ends with a plan - we're going to meet here at this time, you bring this, and we're going to do X,Y and Z when you get here. When he shows us at the right place, at the right time with the right things and with a goofy, awkward smile - boom...here comes Chris Hanson and the mood instantly changes. There have been many of these episodes and hundreds of very public arrests of people from every walk of life. Lives have been ruined, other police agencies are arranging stings similar to those on Dateline, but people are still risking their freedom for these fantasies?

Why? According to PervertedJustice.com, many of these online predators simply think that Dateline and the police can't be everywhere and that they will be safe.

There are hundreds of profiles of chatters that inappropriately converse with children on PervertedJustice.com, and sadly that doesn't scratch the surface. So how can this phenomenon be eliminated? Sadly, it may not be entirely possible, but there are some steps that can be taken. This sexual compulsion should be treated as a psychological disorder and those that repeatedly are engaged in this should be given appropriate treatment, but most importantly removed from any situation where they may harm others.

Whether that be a long-stay in a treatment facility or a long-stay in a prison - which ever is appropriate for the situation. But the simple reality is that parents have to protect their kids and know exactly what they're doing on the Internet. And you have to be able to trust that you're doing a good enough job as a parent that your kids knows right from wrong and won't put themselves in that kind of a bad situation.