"There's some that tell you in their profiles that that's what they want," says Clayton County Sheriff's Officer J., a member of the task force. "That they're looking for young children, the younger the better, or that they're molesting or that they're looking to molest."

WSB's Veronica Waters reports the would-be molesters exchange child porn, advice on how to build relationships with young children and find opportunities to abuse them, and tips on how not to get caught—unaware that the eyes of the feds are already on them.

For some two years, the eyes of the task force were focused on Christopher Brandlon, an Oregon man who called himself "The King of the Pedophiles." He preached his manifesto to a community of hundreds online, titling his mission as one to "spread the pedolust mind virus."

But those familiar with the case say Brandlon did not believe his philosophies were a real "virus" in a sense of sickness, even though another one of his descriptions of himself was "Purveyor of Pleasure, Corruptor of Youth." Instead, Brandlon thought that those who did not ascribe to the philosophy of "sexual freedom" were somewhat puritanical.

C. Brandlon

He did not allow community members to post child pornography on the site, believing that that would quickly bring unwanted police presence into their midst. When one of the community members talked about a recent news report of the arrest of a suspected pedophile, Brandlon acted as cheerleader and coach for those who were worried about their own futures. He called the arrest an indication that law enforcement was using "entrapment" to crack down on those who shared the "pedolust" beliefs.

"This does not mean we should back off of our pursuits. If we do that, they win," Brandlon advised.

Brandlon spent about two years cultivating a relationship with "Paulina," whom he thought was a mom with a three-year-old daughter named "Rachel." Using the screen name "Clif Winters," he was actually corresponding with a task force member. In November 2004, he responded to an inquiry from Paulina asking what he was doing.

"As far as what I'm doing now, let's just say I've taken a more hands-on approach to the world around me," 'Clif' replied. "The problem is still one of creating opportunities for more than just playful fun. So while I get lots of chances to touch, whisper sweet nothings, etc., to the little ones I encounter, I'm still waiting for a truly fulfilling experience. Maybe that's something we could work on when I visit."

Another time, he made his desires even clearer.

"The fantasy of being together with you and Rachel gets me going," Brandlon said.

In a note to "Paulina" on April 15, 2005, Brandlon wrote, "If you are open to getting pregnant again, that would be awesome. And my intention would be to start training the baby pre-birth with lots of sex for mommy and lots of talk from daddy. When (s)he is born, (s)he will already be turned on and open for play. And that's what I want. Hopefully lots of varied play, but of course no force or pain...that would be my ideal for a family."

A little more than a month later, the 49-year-old Brandlon was arrested at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, having flown to Atlanta to consummate his relationship with the supposed mother and toddler. During interviews after his arrest, he "continually referenced his belief that society has unjustly criminalized the natural and beneficial act of child-adult sex," said the FBI.

After he was in custody, an Oregon television station reported that Brandlon had been renting a room from a Portland mother who had a five-year-old daughter. The woman told the media that Brandlon had never had inappropriate contact with the little girl.

The man who called himself the Lust Prophet in a child-sex cult pleaded guilty in March 2006 to enticing a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity. He was sentenced to 11 years, three months in federal prison.

Courtesy: FBI & Photographer Peter Hirshenberger

Tuesday, 12 December 2006
Wednesday: Think, 'Not My Kid?' Think Again