April 24, 2008 EmailPrintTalk BackRegisterWhat's This

Student helps police nab Internet suspect

By Elizabeth Kovach Kunz
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Related: Ga. police lauded for busting Internet predators

HAMPTON, Pa. — Not many 12-year-olds can say they've helped in a police investigation that saved another youngster from danger.

But a student at Hampton Middle School can.

Jennifer Yeager helped Hampton police capture a man who later pleaded no contest to unlawful contact with a minor and pornography charges.

Hampton council and state Rep. Randy Vulakovich, R-Shaler, presented Jennifer with an Outstanding Citizen award at the April 9 council meeting.

The investigation began when Jennifer became worried about a friend's Internet relationship with another person. She alerted her friend's mother and Hampton police.

The investigation took about a year during which Jennifer was interviewed several times by police. She provided information that helped officials charge Touray M. Skinner, 47, of New Jersey.

He was extradited to Pennsylvania and tried in January in Allegheny County. He pleaded no contest to unlawful contact with a minor and pornography charges and was sentenced to seven years of probation.

Jennifer credited her parents, Vicki and David Yeager, with telling her from an early age not to talk to strangers or give out personal information.

She said she also learned about Internet safety through two programs offered through the Hampton School District: Students Taking Academic Responsibility, also called STAR, and Charlie Check First.

STAR is taught to sixth-graders by Elaine Funk at Hampton Middle School. Officer Thomas Vulakovich, school resource officer, teaches the class once a week, focusing on Internet safety and bullying. Developed by Hampton School District, the program is in its second year.

Charlie Check First is a nationwide educational program on personal safety offered through Safety Kids Inc. It instructs children to check first before they go anywhere with anyone and to pay attention to what is going on around them, according to Safety Kids Inc.'s Web site.

Jennifer said she is still good friends with the other girl.

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