Police officials in Henderson, Nevada say a 38-year-old man, Mario Alston, was arrested Wednesday for sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl he met online.
News 3LV reports that in early January, the girl responded to an ad Alston posted on Craigslist, and the pair began an online relationship via email.
Over a period of time, the conversation moved to a messenger app called KIK messenger. The messenger is described as “an anonymous app where messages can be hidden from parents. The user is allowed to create a name and age and profile. Really, there is no verification process at the app,” according to Officer Chris Holman with Henderson Police.
The girl reportedly gave Alston her home address through the app in an attempt to meet up with him. When her parents weren’t home, Alston “made his move” and went to the girl’s home and sexually assaulted her.
Days after the assault, the victim told a counselor at her school and the police were notified. Holman stated that “we need to work together with parents and kids and talk with them about responsibilities of having a phone.”
Police are warning parents and teens about the dangers of meeting someone online, offering the following tips:
- “Be cautious when communicating with people you don’t know, especially if the conversation turns sexual. You could end up being the target of a predator.
- If you choose to get together with someone you meet online, go with a friend or group of friends.
- Parents need to maintain a positive and open dialogue with their children about the potential dangers of communicating with people online.”
Henderson police arrested Alston at his Las Vegas home without incident. He is being held at the “Henderson Detention Center facing two counts of sexual assault with a child under 14.”
[Featured Image: Henderson Police]
