January 12, 2010 6:00 AM

Houston Mom Lauri Price Accused of Soliciting Underaged Boy for Sex Through "World of Warcraft"

By
Edecio Martinez
Topics
Cybercrime
(Personal Photo)
(Blizzard Entertainment)
HOUSTON (CBS/AP) A Houston mother crossed the line -- in fact she crossed the U.S.- Canadian border twice, prosecutors say -- to engage in an illegal sexual relationship with a minor. And it all began with the Internet video game "World of Warcraft," according to authorities.

Photo: Lauri Price.

Lauri Price, a substitute teacher and mother of four, was jailed after allegedly having sex with a 16-year-old boy whom she is said to have lured from his home.

The 42-year-old Houston mother has been charged by prosecutors in Houston with two counts of online solicitation of a minor and one count of enticing a child with the intent to commit a felony.

Photo: A scene from the online video game "World of Warcraft."

Authorities say Price started having an online sexual relationship with the boy, then 15, in September 2008 after meeting him via the online video game "World of Warcraft," said Donna Hawkins, a spokeswoman for the Harris County District Attorney's Office.

After going to the teen's home in Barrie, Ontario, in February of 2009, and failing to lure the boy away, Price continued her online relationship with him, said Lt. Matthew Gray with the Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce.

"She talked to him about sex and a lot of different stuff. It was a very long, long grooming process. She thought that in February she had him at that time. She continued to work on him until she finally felt she broke through," he said.

On Dec. 29, Price flew back to Canada and lured the teen from his home, taking him to a hotel in Rosseau, about 70 miles away, and having sex with him, Gray said.

"From our investigation, we have thousands of e-mails and instant messages to go through," Gray said. "She was very persistent to say the least."

Price was arrested early Tuesday morning, Jan. 5, at Houston's Bush Intercontinental Airport after returning from Canada. She made her initial court appearance Wednesday.

Her attorney, Skip Cornelius, said he finds it both interesting and sad that Texas authorities are prosecuting Price for solicitation even though the boy was old enough in Canada to give consent.

Price is not facing charges in Canada related to sexual assault or other charges because the age of consent in that country is 16. In Texas, it is 17.

"The state authorities are taking the position the solicitation, since it occurred in Texas and in Texas he's a minor, is a crime. We'll have to see," Cornelius said.

Before leaving his home, the teen left a note for his mother saying he was running away with Price. Authorities in Barrie were looking for the two when an off-duty police officer in Rosseau spotted them at the hotel, Gray said.

After releasing Price, Canadian police, knowing she could face possible charges in the United States, told U.S. authorities when she would be returning to Houston, Gray said.

Price has worked as a permanent substitute teacher with the Cypress-Fairbanks school district in suburban Houston, and has four children, Gray said. Prosecutors said after her arrest, Price was fired from her job.

If convicted, she faces from two to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 for each charge, Hawkins said.


Add a Comment See all 11 Comments
by Violet_Petran May 27, 2010 8:53 PM EDT
This is such a sad story and it is so unfortunate that an adult and mother would take advantage of such a young and impressionable child in a sexual way. People seem to think that there are no consequences to their cyber actions but there are and there are just as harsh as if they had been committed in the physical world. This case is unique because it has elements of both--cyber seduction (in a sense) coupled with very inappropriate and illegal physical actions.
Reply to this comment
by excoachken January 13, 2010 8:19 AM EST
Honest mistake, she thought the game was "World of **********."
Reply to this comment
by wdh3007 January 12, 2010 10:16 PM EST
The woman had relations with him in Canada not the U.S. their was no initial crime committed there under Canadian law unless she sent him pictures from the U.S. to Canada prior to meeting him then it would be a crime under U.S. law.
Reply to this comment
by rational_1 January 12, 2010 11:44 AM EST
So if I planned a robbery in the States with the intent of committing it in Canada, after the robbery could I be jailed twice for the same offense? First the Canadians jail me and upon release the Americans put me in jail as well? The logic of the TX prosecutors seems a tad off. There was no actual crime committed in her case. Sordid yes, criminal no.
Reply to this comment
by Godessoffate January 12, 2010 11:41 AM EST
First of all, how does this story have anything to do with who is president?. Also, the lady is a mom and a teacher and is teaching her children and other children that this is ok. What is wrong with people? I am a mom and a fellow WoW player and i play WoW just for fun not to hook up with minors. I realize in canada he is legal age, but i know that if my son was old enough to play WoW i would be using WoW's wonderful parental controls and monitor what was being said.
Reply to this comment
by bciss January 12, 2010 10:53 AM EST
Yes with all the problems in the world, this seems vital. Should she be proud? No. Considering the age and the country where the kid lives and their age of consent, which is a year shy of the state she lives in. Seems like a waste of time and money. Just to make a few people feel better and self righteous.
Reply to this comment
by retiredgustav January 12, 2010 10:53 AM EST
Here in bush coutry (texas) the repubs want to make sex illegal for those under 18 illegal. See page 14 of the republican platform. http://www.hcdp.org/Repub2008.pdf
I guess they want to throw 75% of our teenages in jail.
Reply to this comment
by Brokennews January 12, 2010 10:48 AM EST
"I'm a paladin with 18 charisma and 97 hit points. I can use my Helm of Disintegration and do 1D4 damage as my Half-Elf Mage wields his +5 Holy Avenger.................And I'm *****!!"
Reply to this comment
by libftw January 12, 2010 11:34 AM EST
Never played WOW I take it.
by CBSName January 12, 2010 10:17 AM EST
Guess you're blaming the Obama administration?

Much of what happens has nothing to do with who is President.
Reply to this comment
by novamba January 12, 2010 10:00 AM EST
Lets see, how is someone going to blame the bush administration for this cross border escapade?
Reply to this comment
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