They're called 'travelers.'
Usually when we write about them, it's the case of another man who's been stung by the people who have one of the toughest jobs in the county. They are undercover detectives who troll the ugly underbelly of the online world as part of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
I'll never forget an interview we did with a woman detective who worked this detail. Among the sad stories she related, one thing stayed with me. She indicated just how easy it was to find men online who were interested in having sex with children, even willing to travel great distances to do so.
That's where the name comes from, why they're called "travelers."
She would say she would go online posing as an underage girl and within minutes she would be contacted by men looking to have sex.
But the story we detailed Sunday was even uglier.
Police say the "traveler" in this case actually came here to Delaware County and had sex with an underage girl.
She reported to school officials that she had been sexually assaulted.
Now David Dewald, who traveled here from Bloomsburg, according to police, faces charges of rape, involuntary sexual intercourse involving a person less than 16 years of age, other sex charges, kidnapping of a minor and other charges.
Let this be a warning to parents.
The Internet can be a very dangerous place, especially for kids.
You can read the frightening story here.
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