Parents beware! Facebook leads to traveling child predator arrest

Evidence obtained from victim's Facebook leads to arrest of traveling child predator

ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. – An investigation was launched by the Oakland County Sheriff's Office Computer Crimes in January 2012 of a traveling sexual predator. The investigation was based on testimony from a victim's parents who believed their 15-year-old daughter had been sexually assaulted during the 2011 Thanksgiving holiday.

The suspect in the investigation, 22-year-old Roseanne Valesco Balagot from Essex, Maryland, and citizen of the Philippines, flew from Maryland to Michigan during the Thanksgiving holiday, picked up the victim, took her to an eastern Oakland County area hotel room, and sexually assaulted her.

Recommended Videos



The victim's parents found evidence of the assault on the victim's Facebook account, and turned over the 15-year-old's electronic devices to the Sheriff's CCU for examination.

During the examination of the electronic devices, CCU investigators identified Balagot as the suspect, and determined she was aware of the victim being underage.  Balagot was arrested and taken to Oakland County Jail on July 11, and was arraigned on a $75,000 bond July 12.

Sheriff Bouchard issued this warning to parents:

"Once again, the Computer Crimes Unit, with assistance and cooperation of local and federal agents, has removed a sexual predator from the street. It also serves as a reminder to all parents to educate their children and teenagers of the dangers of internet predators and electronic media, and to closely monitor their use of the internet, as well as their behavior."