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Accused Internet predator in Cowlitz County Jail

Monday, October 6, 2008 5:56 PM PDT

By Leslie Slape lslape@tdn.com

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A convicted sex offender suspected of trying to entice a 12-year-old Longview girl into sending him nude photos of herself has been extradited from Colorado and was booked Saturday night into the Cowlitz County Jail.

Benjamin Clinton Stribling, 26, of Elbert, Colo., will make his first court appearance today in Cowlitz County Superior Court in connection with attempted possession of depictions of minors in sexually explicit conduct, communication with a minor for immoral purposes and sexual exploitation of a minor. Bail has been set at $200,000.

According to an investigation by Detective Pat Schallart of the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office, Stribling approached the girl in March through a teen social networking Internet site and began corresponding with her online, trying to gain her trust as he tried to groom her to do his bidding. Schallart said Stribling pretended he was several years younger and he used an alias.

The investigation revealed that Stribling sent more than 100 similar e-mails to young girls throughout the country, Schallart said.

Colorado authorities arrested him in May on the Cowlitz County warrant.

Stribling’s criminal history includes sexual assault in 2003 and extortion in 2005. In the latter case, investigators said he hacked into a woman’s Internet account, found erotic photos of her and threatened to post them online unless she agreed to have sex with him.

Previous stories on the Stribling case: http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/05/15/area_news/doc482b976928e86772474712.txt and http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/05/19/top_story/doc48311be88f2f3242459277.txt

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scooby wrote on Oct 5, 2008 11:17 AM:

" This should be real interesting. The whole USA is watching this case. It could change history and the laws affecting internet crimes. Way to go Officer Schallert for following this through instead of letting it fade out of the books. "

mom of 2 wrote on Oct 5, 2008 11:22 AM:

" Good job to who ever caught him. "

131941 wrote on Oct 5, 2008 1:59 PM:

" GREAT JOB Cowlitz CO. Sheriffs office.
Keep up the GOOD WORK. "

Gondolapete wrote on Oct 5, 2008 3:00 PM:

" He looks like such an upstanding person... "

Thought wrote on Oct 5, 2008 6:11 PM:

" What we don't have enough local perverts that we have to import them?
Seriously at least it lets some wonder who is really on the other end.. Good article if for no other reason. "

piper wrote on Oct 5, 2008 11:09 PM:

" With shows like To Catch A Predator, you wouldn't think anyone would be stupid enough to do this. But....maybe he doesn't watch TV or read a newspaper. "

lucky1 wrote on Oct 6, 2008 7:24 AM:

" I think they should release him to the girls dad. Now that would be justice. "

GR8 ANT wrote on Oct 6, 2008 7:32 AM:

" Thought...did you not read the entire article...he is in the Cowlitz County Jail because of his actions toward a "Longview girl". Great job Officer Schallert and to the parents for being aware of what there child is doing!! "

GR8 ANT wrote on Oct 6, 2008 12:39 PM:

" "lucky1"...as one of the family memebers of the girl...all I can say is that we couldn't agree with you more!!!! "

mad monkeys wrote on Oct 6, 2008 3:04 PM:

" I agree with lucky1, it is scarey along with technology even pediphiles are upgrading. I don't think there is a sentence harsh enough for them. GR8 ANT I am glad they caught him. "

kerchak wrote on Oct 7, 2008 5:23 AM:

" I can't imagine the amount of work involved investigating an internet case like this, what with all the legal mumbo-jumbo the cops gotta go through just to get information. Good job CCSO. "

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