Internet Culture

Banned sexual predator amassed 300 Facebook friends

Despite being exiled from the Internet, predator gained 300 friends on Facebook in six months.

Photo of Fernando Alfonso III

Fernando Alfonso III

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A convicted sexual predator banned from using any sort of social media is back in police custody after he used Facebook to interact and meet with young boys.

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Jeffrey Goddard was arrested on Aug. 9 after an Abbotsford, British Columbia community member notified police that the 22-year-old has been interacting with boys on Facebook

Over the last six months Goddard has collected about 300 friends on Facebook where he is posing as Ryan Martin Stewart, a supervisor for a landscaping company in  Abbotsford, The Province reported.

“I am a really loveing [sic] person and i am caring if u wanna know anymore about me please dont be affraid [sic] to ask me,” Goddard wrote under his About page.

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The fairly harmless-looking Facebook account was started in May and features photos of cute animals, cars, and music videos. Goddard has used his profile to have at least two face-to-face meetings with young boys, The Province reported.

“We say criminals are creatures of habit,” Const. Ian MacDonald told The Province. “I don’t know if it can be any better illustrated by Goddard continuing to use the same MO as a means to engage and connect with young people.”

Goddard was convicted of “luring minors using a computer, invitation to sexual touching, and impersonating a police officer” last year and was sentenced to 20 months in prison, The Province reported. As part of his release in February the police notified the community of his crimes and was ordered to not use any sort of device to connect to the Internet as part of his probation.

Goddard is expected in court Thursday for a hearing, Global BC reported.

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Photo via Abbotsford Police Department

 
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