LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) – Law enforcement agencies across the country aggressively seek to find and stop child predators.
Earlier this week, Lafayette Police arrested a Hub City man and charged him with possession of child pornography.
Detectives reportedly discovered the disturbing images on 28-year-old Seth Burch’s cell phone.
This comes after police say Burch’s roommate found what she believed to be child porn on their iCloud synced Apple TV.
She then contacted authorities.
This comes after police say Burch’s roommate found what she believed to be child porn on their iCloud synced Apple TV.
She then contacted authorities.
The arrest affidavit reveals that when detectives searched Burch’s iPhone, they found “several images of male children between the ages of 13-16 with shirts off in just underwear,” and a few were even exposing themselves.
People on Facebook chimed in on the arrest.
One woman commented, “He (Burch) volunteered at Fright Trail and someone knew what he was doing and did nothing.”
Another person said, “This doesn’t surprise me one bit. He (Burch) would not leave my teenage son alone and I finally had to intervene and threaten police action.”
Another person said, “This doesn’t surprise me one bit. He (Burch) would not leave my teenage son alone and I finally had to intervene and threaten police action.”
“What we find is that often the children who are the subjects in these images come here for counseling, they also come here for interviews as part of the investigation that law enforcement does,” said Amidie Shaw.
She’s with ‘Hearts of Hope,’ the children’s advocacy and rape crisis center.
Shaw says in 2018, their organization interviewed more than 450 children with open cases of sexual abuse or physical violence.
Shaw says in 2018, their organization interviewed more than 450 children with open cases of sexual abuse or physical violence.
“Pornagraphic images of children are abuse. They are sexual violence perpetrated against children, and the sharing or distributing of them around the world is unfortunately just a menace,” said Shaw.
Police believe that Burch may be engaging in inappropriate behavior with juveniles in or around the Lafayette area during various church functions, youth groups, or within various jobs he’s worked.
‘Hearts of Hope‘ says they’ll provide counseling or support for anyone who may be a victim.
“Every time that image gets clicked and opened by someone new, it revictimizes and retraumatizes the subject,” said Shaw.
Shaw knows the numbers are much higher than the 450 children that were interviewed in their offices just last year, but unfortunately most cases of abuse sometimes don’t get reported.
The investigation is ongoing at this time.
If you have information on this case, contact the Lafayette Police Department.
