Vicki Rios-Martinez (pictured) flips a lock of redish-blond hair away from her face. She glances around, as mothers do, in a park where children are playing. This is Junny Rios-Martinez Park in Cocoa.
“I had to put it all away for a while… I had to concentrate on keeping my family and…

Child advocates, law makers and law enforcers are slated to converge on Cape Canaveral in May to participate in the Space Coast Conference On Child Protection. The event, which is themed the “Lunsford Act Workshop” (L.A.W.), will examine the dramatic new legislation designed to protect Florida’s children from sex predators.
State Representative Mitch…

Despite proposed ordinances designed to keep convicted sex offenders from residing near schools, registered offenders who have children attending Brevard schools are allowed entry to school grounds to visit their kids.
Nervous parents called THE GUARDIAN last week complaining that sex offender William Pratt (pictured) was frequenting Ralph Williams Jr. Elementary School in Rockledge. Pratt,…

Changes in behavior, mood swings, withdrawal, fearfulness and excessive crying.
Stained, torn or bloody clothing.
Child reports pain, itching or bleeding in genital area.
Child possesses detailed knowledge of adult sexual behavior.
Young child behaves “seductively” or acts out in a sexual manner.
Exhibits violent behavior toward smaller children or pets.
Recoils from physical contact with adults.
Regression to infantile behavior,…