WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Computer Sex Sting Snares State Social Worker

Computer Sex Sting Snares State Social Worker

Burlington, Vermont -- July 17, 2003

A state social worker has been arrested in a law enforcement sting using police officers pose as children in computer chat rooms to snare on-line sexual predators.

Ralph Culver, 52, Burlington, was arrested Wednesday afternoon after police say he attempted to meet what he believed was a 14-year-old girl, according to court records.

But the "girl" never existed, say police. "She" was actually a specially trained male detective posing as a child on the internet to lure sexual predators.

Culver fell for the bait, according to authorities.

Culver used his home computer and the state-owned computer in his Burlington office to send explicit sexual descriptions and requests about what he hoped the "girl" would do with him, according to police.

Police say Culver made numerous attempts to meet the "child" for sex, knew that "she" was underage, and knew that having sex with minors under 15 is a crime.

Police also seized three boxes in Culver's house containing the confidential records of hundreds of social welfare clients, according to authorities.

Investigators will attempt to to determine why Culver had the records in his home and what he used them for.

In court Wednesday, he pled innocent to one count of attempting to lure a child for sex using electronic means, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

He was ordered held on bail set at $25,000 dollars.

Brian Joyce - Channel 3 News