Erik Estrada to attend Beckley event

BECKLEY, Mar 05, 2013 (The Register-Herald - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- The public is invited to attend a new movie about Internet safety based on true events and featuring the West Virginia State Police.

The movie, "Finding Faith," will premiere in our area at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Calvary Assembly of God in Beckley in association with RESA I and the Safe Surfin' Foundation.

The film stars Erik Estrada, an actor internationally recognized for his lead on the 1970s TV series "CHiPs" and current spokesman for the Safe Surfin' Foundation. Estrada will be at Thursday's showing.

"Finding Faith" is based on the true story of a young girl from rural Virginia who was abducted by a predator she met on the Internet and rescued, along with two other girls, by State Police in Pennsylvania before they were to be sold into the slave market.

Tim Vickers, a volunteer with Just For Kids' Child Advocacy Center, said the message of the movie rings true for parents, guardians and teens alike.

"Trust no one online. With the increase in access to technology, perpetrators and predators have increased access to come into everyone's living room through their smartphones and computers." Vickers said this family-friendly film is meant to help educate the public about Internet crimes against children.

West Virginia State Police Sgt. M.K. Summers, investigator with the Crimes Against Children Task Force, said two area officers, Sgt. D.C. Eldridge and recently retired 1st Sgt. C.M. Casto, are featured in the movie.

"This film's message is extremely important. We get complaints daily across the state from parents whose child was approached by someone via Facebook." Summers said a 9-year-old girl in Fayette County recently accepted a friend request from a suspected pedophile on Facebook posing as a young girl from overseas. Police were notified when the local girl was asked to send inappropriate photos of herself.

"You just don't know who people are online. The film is, hopefully, a wake-up call to children, parents and even adults who do online dating. People are putting information about themselves and photos of their kids online, and that opens the door for predators. Putting info out there can be devastating," he said.

The screening at Calvary Assembly is part of a National Awareness Tour aimed at bringing issues of Internet safety to light.

"In today's world, pretty much all parents have had the conversation about technology and the challenges in keeping our kids protected online or on their smartphones. Whether being concerned about your elementary-aged child learning to use search engines or managing your high schooler's growing dependency on social networking sites, this film is both entertaining and extremely educational," said RESA I's Selina Vickers.

There is no cost to attend the film; however, an offering will be taken.

Seating is on a first-come, first-seated basis, and Estrada and film producer Jason Campbell will be available after the screening to answer questions, pose for photos and give autographs.

The church is located on Sunset Drive, just off Harper Road.

For more information about "Finding Faith" and to watch the trailer, visit the film's website at www.FindingFaithFilm.com.

Those interested in hosting a showing at a school, church or community event can contact Selina Vickers at smvickers@access.k12.wv.us or 304-256-4712, ext. 1120.

-- E-mail: splummer@register-herald.com ___ (c)2013 The Register-Herald (Beckley, W.Va.) Visit The Register-Herald (Beckley, W.Va.) at www.register-herald.com Distributed by MCT Information Services

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