The News Room [News Release]

Sheriff Contact: John Roach: 313-224-0615
Release Date: Monday, June 28, 2004

Sheriff’s Internet Unit busts Air National Guardsman ---Southgate resident had just come back from service in Iraq --- Suspect also faces multiple child pornography charges

The Wayne County Sheriff’s Internet Crimes Unit made another significant arrest this weekend, Sheriff Warren C. Evans announced today. Late Friday, undercover deputies arrested John Price, 21, a member of the Air National Guard, who had returned from service just three weeks ago after spending four months in Iraq.

Price, a resident of Southgate, helped build bombs for American fighter jets in Iraq . Investigators say Price showed up for a meet he had arranged after two days of online chats with who he thought was a 13-year old girl. He was met, instead, by sheriff’s deputies. Price was arraigned on Saturday on charges of illegal use of the Internet.

Price, who also had child pornography on a laptop computer he brought to the meet, faces additional charges on those counts. More disturbing, Evans said, is that Price allegedly planned to use a computer Web camera to videotape his encounter with the young girl, possibly for distribution.

“When he showed up at the meet, the suspect arrived with a laptop computer and a web camera, which indicates his intent,” Evans said. “Prosecutors have charged him with an additional count of producing child sexually abusive materials, which is a 20-year felony.”

The Internet Unit, which has made more than 50 arrests in the past 18 months and has a 100 percent conviction rate, could be forced to shut down at the end of September if budget cuts proposed by county executive Robert Ficano are adopted.

“This arrest demonstrates how badly needed this kind of enforcement is,” Evans said. “If this unit ceases to exist, there will be no one in Wayne County equipped to protect young children who use the Internet.”

Price is being held at the Wayne County jail on $20,000 ten percent bond. If convicted of all charges, he could face up to 44 years in prison.

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