El Paso Kids Are Targeted By Predators In Three Separate Cases

Over the past week, we've had some pretty disturbing news about child predators in the El Paso area.

First there was 30 year old Oscar Garcia Jr. who was arrested after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children contacted El Paso Police about his internet activities. When officers searched his home and computer they found 17,000 images of child pornography.

A few days later, 57-year-old Anthony, Texas truck driver Travis Wayne Vavra was arrested after he posted a flyer online offering to take boys on the road with him and paying them $100 a week. The FBI investigated and discovered that over the past five years he has taken children from Texas on trips to states throughout the Southwest and Midwest for sex. He is now in jail and charged with interstate transportation of minors with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.

This week 32 year old Andres Soliz was arrested and charged with two felony counts of improper relationship between educator and student after the mother of one of his victims reported inappropriate text messages from Soliz to his sons.

As a mom and grandmother I have to tell you that stories like this freak me out. All of them have a digital component and with even young children carrying phones these days, it is easier and easier for predators to get at your kids. It can't be said often enough. Don't let your kids use their phones without checking to see what they are doing. There are apps that allow parents to follow every key stroke. You can also not put internet access on their phones if you are worried about them using the web while they're not with you.

You have to keep you kid safe in whatever way you think is right. You can prevent them from falling prey to a predator. Picking up the pieces after something has happened is a lot more difficult.