Attorney General's News Release

June 26, 2007

Nixon provides Missouri Highway Patrol with names of 98 additional sex offenders who had pages on MySpace.com

Jefferson City, Mo. — Attorney General Jay Nixon today provided the Missouri State Highway Patrol with the names and other information of 98 additional convicted sex offenders identified as having pages on the popular social networking web site MySpace.com. Two weeks ago, Nixon provided the names of 178 such sex offenders to the Highway Patrol. Nixon has asked the Highway Patrol to examine the data to look for parole violations by offenders who may be barred from using a computer or contacting minors.

“Our investigation into the use of web sites such as MySpace.com by sex offenders continues,” Nixon said. “We will continue to work to identify and catalogue those who attempt to use the site as a means of committing criminal acts.”

Nixon said MySpace will continue to immediately delete the name of any user it identifies as a sex offender, and will preserve that offenders’ account information to forward to Nixon’s office.

“Some sex offenders may think they can use the anonymity of the internet to continue to prey on Missouri children,” Nixon said. “But this action by my office and my colleagues in other states sends a strong message to those who think they can operate in the shadows.”

Nixon said it is important for parents to monitor their kids’ activity on the internet, and to report to law enforcement any suspicious activity they encounter.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to the Press Secretary.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818