The Pinal County Attorney’s Office (PCAO) is partnering with the Queen Creek Police Department (QCPD) to present “Sextortion: The Hidden Pandemic,” a documentary highlighting the impact of a crime that is affecting children in communities across the United States.
The film features a real life case and takes a deep dive into the world of online grooming and sextortion. Both QCPD and the PCAO have handled several cases that fall under "sextortion." Generally, this term includes the coercion of inappropriate pictures from children, with the predator threatening to release them publicly unless they receive more content or money.
A panel of experts including the filmmakers, QCPD detectives and PCAO staff attorneys will be available to answer questions after the viewing on Saturday, Sept. 17.
The safety of children is a top priority for PCAO and QCPD.
“We are very excited about this partnership with the Pinal County Attorney’s Office. These crimes are extremely difficult to solve and can be traumatic for the victims and their families. We want to keep our children safe, and prevention is the best strategy for mitigating these issues. We really hope to see as many parents and teens as possible at this free educational event,” Queen Creek Police Chief Randy Brice said.
While the movie is free, tickets are required – sign up at bit.ly/3BWIRkw. The content includes sensitive topics such as sexual exploitation of a minor, suicide/suicidal ideation and human/sex trafficking.
“The reality is predators go to great lengths to trick and extort our children,” said County Attorney Kent Volkmer. “Whether it be apps, gaming consoles or social media, any child who has access to the internet can become a potential target of a predator, which makes awareness and education vital in protecting our kids.”
The Sept. 17 event will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Queen Creek Performing Arts Center, located at 22149 E. Ocotillo Road. It is currently the only scheduled showing of the film in Arizona.
You can learn more about the film at sextortionfilm.com.
For questions regarding the event, contact Michael Pelton, public information officer for the Pinal County Attorney’s Office, at Michael.pelton@pinal.Gov or Sonu Wasu, public information officer of public safety for the Town of Queen Creek, at Sonu.Wasu@QueenCreekAZ.gov.
Advisory: This movie content includes sensitive topics such as sexual exploitation of a minor, suicide/suicidal ideation and human/sex trafficking.
