For the past week or more, residents of Jasper County had noticed advertisements posted at various places throughout the county offering babysitting services for $12 per weekend — but the ads solicited the babysitting services for “Females only” and requested their ages be “11 months thru 9 years.”
The ads also caught the attention of investigators with the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department, who discovered the man posting the bulletins across the county was Thomas Louis Van-Hook, a convicted sex offender, who has victimized, at least, three female children in the past. But because Van-Hoot was off parole, had completed his sentencing requirements and had no stipulations to stay away from children, law enforcement officials were having a difficult time trying to find a way to charge him with a crime.
“We know where he is and we are waiting on a judge to sign the warrant,” Bob Walker, a Jasper County Sheriff’s Department investigator told The Examiner on Friday.
The Examiner was told by a law enforcement source on Friday that a 2-year-old child may be Van-Hook’s latest victim.
“From what I was told they began investigating this after a little girl was left with him,” said The Examiner’s source. “Because she is so young she can’t make an outcry and unless he injured her the exam isn’t going to reveal anything.
“He is out there actively trolling for fresh victims. And because he has served his time, I am not sure what we can do about it until he victimizes another child. This guy is a sick bastard.”
Sheriff’s investigators said they were not aware of anyone that had responded to the ads or of any children being assaulted by Van-Hook. They are asking for anyone who left their children with Van-Hook to contact them.
The Examiner also obtained a copy of a letter that Van-Hook wrote in 2004 to the Procter & Gamble Company, the makers of Pampers Diapers, where he requested that the company do more to show the genital areas of children. The head of corporate security for Procter & Gamble sent the letter to the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department.
Van-Hook provided a dozen scenarios on how he thought Pampers should film their commercials in the 7-page letter. One scenario was that Pampers’ commercials should show a little girl laying on a couch for a diaper change and the cameras could show her, “with her little legs wide open.”
Van-Hook also suggested using pampers baby wipes on girls as old as nine. In his closing paragraph, he write, “there should not be a problem of your showing a nine-year-old girl’s beautiful, pretty little hairless …”
According to records from the Texas Department of Public Safety Sex Offenders Database, Van-Hoot was convicted three times for indecency with a child by exposing himself to girls ages 4-year-old, 6-year-old and 3-year-old.
Van-Hoot was taken into custody at his residence in Jasper on Friday and is being held on a $300,000 bond.
that transcends effed-up. Obviously, a stay in jail didn't do anything for that pervert. He's working the system, too. Everyone hates him, but they can't legally bust his A. Writing to Pampers and telling them to exploit little girls like that must be SOME kind of legal offense, I'm sure. Bust him for that; just get him off the street and behind bars before he molests another girl or gets slaughtered like a pig. I swear, him screwing other people's children is bad enough, but if he came for my nieces, he'd have hell to pay.
Do you doubt that he's trying to? It’s only a matter of time. He’s disgusting, and I’m sad that one more girl has to go through that before they can stop him.
You know, he hasn't actually done nothing illegal... yet.
nur... you are right.
It can't help that I wrote that at some odd hour of the night, but I still think some sort of prevention is necessary. Pedophilia is a terrible thing, and giving into those urges is even worse. It shouldn't be something you can just leave behind you. Even if it's restrictive, once you've committed that offense, there should be things to stop that kind of behavior every step of the way.
The article says that the Police are already on him, so I trust that should be enough to keep him at least moderately tame. Also, the article is not clear about whether he wrote that awful letter before or after he served his sentence, which if you asks me makes a huge difference on how potentially dangerous he is.
I'd say soliciting for babysitting jobs with girls 11 months - 9 years is enough info. I am glad the police are actively trying to get a warrant, though. Good for the justice system
A convicted paedophile appeared in a tourist advertising brochure promoting a children's attraction, the Forest of Dean Council has admitted.
David Harper, 66, who was jailed for his offences, appears as the "Fat Controller" station master in an advert for a Thomas the Tank Engine ride.
The picture features in 50,000 copies of the Forest of Dean Tourist Guide.
A spokesman said: "It was a mistake and we hold our hands up. We have ordered all of the images to be destroyed."
Harper was sent to prison for eight years in 2007 after sexually abusing two boys aged 10 and 12 and placing 25,000 child porn images on his computer.
The council, which has ruled out recalling the brochures, has sent many across Britain at a cost of £25,000.
Steve Kendal of the Forest of Dean Council said: "In terms of a recall, we discussed it, but it is horrendously expensive and will have huge implications for our tourist trade for the coming year.
"We in no way condone what that individual did but it is important to note that he was not captioned or named in the picture and it is the character of the Fat Controller not the individual which is promoting the attraction.
"The booklet is intended to attract people from outside the area, so it is unlikely that those not living here will be aware of this man's background."
Harper, of Monmouth, south Wales, admitted gross indecency with each of the two boys, 11 offences of making indecent images of children and one of distributing an indecent image, at Gloucester Crown Court in 2007.
Comments
nur... you are right.
It can't help that I wrote that at some odd hour of the night, but I still think some sort of prevention is necessary. Pedophilia is a terrible thing, and giving into those urges is even worse. It shouldn't be something you can just leave behind you. Even if it's restrictive, once you've committed that offense, there should be things to stop that kind of behavior every step of the way.
Paedophile's image in kids' guide
Give me an older woman with a little experience who knows what she's doing anyday. Rawr.
EDIT: HAH! Forgot the not there the first time.
I...I thought I was the only one... ;_;