05/06/2026
Following todayโs FB post from the Highland County Sheriff's Office regarding charges against a Highland County man, our Victim Witness team wants to take a moment to focus on ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง and ๐๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ.
We are seeing a growing number of cases where predators are targeting children online through platforms many families use every dayโSnapchat, Roblox, TikTok, traditional phone calls, and encrypted messaging apps like Signal.
These individuals are not who they claim to be.
They often:
โข Pretend to be the same age as your child
โข Build trust over time through conversation and shared interests
โข Gradually introduce inappropriate topics or requests
โข Encourage secrecy and isolate the child from parents or trusted adults
This process is called ๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐จ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐ , and it can happen faster (and more subtly) than many people realize.
๐ What you can do as a parent:
โข Talk openly with your children about who they are communicating with online
โข Remind them that not everyone is who they say they are
โข Set clear boundaries about sharing personal information, photos, or videos
โข Regularly review apps, privacy settings, and friend lists
โข Encourage your child to come to you if something feels uncomfortableโwithout fear of punishment
๐ฌ The most powerful tool you have is ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง. Creating a safe, judgment-free space makes it more likely your child will speak up. ๐
Highland County Man Charged with Sexual Exploitation of a Minor
On November 13, 2025, the Highland County Sheriff's Office received a report from a victim's father, who discovered that his minor daughter had been communicating with Chandler since approximately May or June of 2024, when the victim was 14 years old. The Highland County Sheriff's Office initiated an investigation into Mark Alan Chandler II, 37, of the 800 block of Sicily Road, Clay Township, Highland County, for the sexual exploitation of a 15-year-old female victim residing in Orangevale, California.
The investigation revealed that Chandler allegedly:
Sent sexually explicit images and videos of himself to the minor victim;
Engaged in sexually explicit conversations with the victim while acknowledging her age;
Solicited n**e images from the minor victim;
Threatened to kill the victim if she reported his conduct;
Offered gift cards to the victim to maintain the relationship; discussed traveling to California to engage in sexual activity with the victim;
Offered to provide transportation for the victim to meet him.
Communication between Chandler and the victim reportedly occurred across multiple platforms, including Snapchat, Roblox, TikTok, cellular phone calls, and the encrypted messaging application Signal.
Additional victims were discovered in multiple states, including Michigan, Texas, Las Vegas, Wisconsin, and Indiana. The case was turned over to the Department of Homeland Security in February of 2026 for federal prosecution, as the victims spanned multiple states.
Mark Chandler was charged in the UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT of the Southern District on May 4, 2026, for 18 U.S.C. ยง 2422(b)โ Coercion and Enticement; 18 U.S.C. ยง 2252A(a)(2)-Receipt of child po*******hy; 18 U.S.C. ยง 2251(a)&(e)-Sexual Exploitation of Children.
Mark will appear for his arraignment on Friday, May 8,2026.
