Burnett County to Host Panel Covering Online Risks for Teens

BURNETT COUNTY, Wis. (WLAK / WBZH / WHSM) – Burnett County officials are inviting parents to an educational panel aimed at addressing the growing risk of online threats for teens.

According to a press release, the free event will be held at the Siren Schools Auditorium on Wednesday, September 10. Residents who attend will also receive a free dinner at 5:30 p.m. before the presentation begins at 6:15 p.m.

The presentation portion of the event will feature representatives from Burnett County law enforcement agencies and community organizations, the Wisconsin Department of Justice, and parents whose children have been victimized by online threats like sextortion. The event will also feature the story of Brittney Bird, whose 15-year-old son Bradyn Bohn took his own life as a result of a sextortion scheme.

The tragic incident led to the passage of “Bradyn’s Law” earlier this year, which strengthened the criminal penalties for people found guilty of sextortion. The new law could lead to perpetrators of sextortion being charged with felony murder if their victim takes their own life as a result of the scheme.

Sextortion is one of the fastest-spreading online crimes against teens across the country. It involves the perpetrator manipulating their victim into sending them explicit images before using those images to blackmail the victim.

The goal of the panel is to give parents the tools and knowledge they need to recognize online threats targeting their children so they can respond appropriately. There will also be a resource fair before and after the presentation seeking to connect families with local organizations that can provide additional support.