Items written by Samantha Newman

• Student Blog Series: Stranger Danger? Trafficking Through Romantic Relationships

  Date: April 4, 2024

  One of the most misleading and dangerous myths of human trafficking is that traffickers are strangers. In 2021, 28% of the total number of victims with known recruiter types, were trafficked by an intimate partner, which equates to about 1 … Read more about Student Blog Series: Stranger Danger? Trafficking Through Romantic Relationships »

• German Man Accused of Traveling to Pennsylvania to Meet 15-year-old Girl for Sex

  Date: March 28, 2024

  On March 9, 2024, Erik Weidling, 20, was arrested and charged in Lancaster County for his alleged involvement with a 15 year-old girl. His 16 charges include two counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse (IDSI) – person less than 16 … Read more about German Man Accused of Traveling to Pennsylvania to Meet 15-year-old Girl for Sex »

• Santa Monica Man Charged in Montgomery County Child Exploitation Scheme

  Date: March 28, 2024

  Earlier this month, 54-year-old John Douglas Burch from Santa Monica, California was charged in connection to an online child exploitation scheme that began in Los Angeles, California. United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero and the Philadelphia FBI believe Burch had … Read more about Santa Monica Man Charged in Montgomery County Child Exploitation Scheme »

• Pennsylvania Man Charged with Sex Crimes Against Children

  Date: March 28, 2024

  On March 7, 2024, 18-year-old Tyler Pearsall of Moscow, Pennsylvania was arrested and charged with two felony counts of sexual abuse of children – child pornography and one felony count of criminal use of a communication facility. The charges followed … Read more about Pennsylvania Man Charged with Sex Crimes Against Children »

• Student Blog Series: The Road to the Crown: How the Pageant World Advances the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Women

  Date: March 28, 2024

  “I’m not a model. I’m an opera singer.” This was the famous stance of Miss America 1951, Yolande Betbeze. After securing the coveted title, she refused to wear the swimsuits of the pageant’s sponsor, Catalina Swimsuits, during her appearances. Her … Read more about Student Blog Series: The Road to the Crown: How the Pageant World Advances the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Women »

• Student Blog Series: Deepfake Pornography: How AI Has Added to the Power Imbalances of the Porn Industry

  Date: March 26, 2024

  As AI becomes more advanced, its potential to cause harm grows, as exhibited by the recent rise in deepfake pornography. Deepfakes are images, videos, or audio that have been altered to make it appear as if a specific person is … Read more about Student Blog Series: Deepfake Pornography: How AI Has Added to the Power Imbalances of the Porn Industry »

• Erie Man Arrested After Attempting to Meet Teen for Sex

  Date: March 4, 2024

  On February 4, 2024, Gregg Crossley Jr. of Erie County was arrested after he allegedly attempted to meet who he believed to be a 14-year-old girl for sex. He is charged with criminal attempt to commit statutory sexual assault, involuntary … Read more about Erie Man Arrested After Attempting to Meet Teen for Sex »

• Arbitrator awards $24.5 million to two women who were sex trafficked as minors at North American Motor Inns

  Date: March 4, 2024

  On February 7, 2024, arbitrator, William Ricci, awarded two sex trafficking survivors, $24.5 million. The women, identified as B.H. and C.A., were sex trafficked at North American Motor Inns located at 4444 City Avenue in West Philadelphia. The lawsuit, which … Read more about Arbitrator awards $24.5 million to two women who were sex trafficked as minors at North American Motor Inns »

• Student Blog Series: Sweetening the Deal: The Glamorization of Sugar Dating on Social Media

  Date: March 4, 2024

  If you are under thirty years old, chances are your TikTok algorithm has probably promoted videos of the glitz and glamor of having a sugar daddy. These videos, which have thousands of views and comments, sensationalize a version of sugaring … Read more about Student Blog Series: Sweetening the Deal: The Glamorization of Sugar Dating on Social Media »

• Student Blog Series: How the Monetization of Engagement and Attention Boosts the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Women

  Date: March 1, 2024

  One cannot examine social media without a sufficient nod to its sister phenom: the social media influencer. Platforms like Instagram, Twitter/X, and TikTok have paved the way for an influx of individuals, known as “influencers”, who leverage their personal brand … Read more about Student Blog Series: How the Monetization of Engagement and Attention Boosts the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Women »