Schools

Sexual Predator Using Social Media To Contact Teens, Harford Superintendent Says

An alleged predator used Facebook, Instagram, Vine and Snapchat to contact John Carroll students, according to the head of Harford County Public Schools.

In a letter to parents, Harford County Public Schools Interim Superintendent Barbara P. Canavan says students in Harford County have been solicited by a sexual predator via popular social media outlets.

Canavan, in a page-long letter, told parents Thursday that a predator made inappropriate contact with John Carroll School students at home using Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Vine. Canavan said the predator operated under usernames J.P. Smith, Brian Pond, JPL42 and MatLax.

Police have been contacted and an investigation is underway, Canavan wrote.

The full letter, sent home to HCPS parents on Thursday, is included with this article in PDF form. Unable to see the PDF on your browser? Click here.

The incidents were first reported by John Carroll School.

A similar series of incidents, reported by Lutherville-Timonium Patch on Monday, took place at St. Paul School for Girls in Baltimore County.

Canavan said sites such as those the predator reportedly used are blocked on school networks.

In the letter, Canavan provided a series of talking points for parents:

  • If you have been contacted via social media by the person mentioned above or anyone of a suspicious nature, you should tell an adult that you trust immediately
  • You should only "friend" people that you know and trust. (Parents are strongly encouraged to "friend" for "follow" their children on social media sites.)
  • Monitor your privacy settings, as they can change with upgrades to the technology. Always keep your accounts private.
  • Do not give out personal information, such as name, age and location.
  • Photos that are posted can often time give clues about personal information. Be cautious of the photos that you post.
For more information on cyber safety, visit hcps.org/cybersafety.


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