Parents Against Scott's Plan To Cut Cybercrime Unit

The parents of two young girls who were killed are speaking out against Gov. Rick Scott's plan to cut the unit that tracks online sexual predators.

Somer Thompson's mother, Diena Thompson, wiped away tears while in Tallahassee on Tuesday, after telling lawmakers the story of her daughter's horrific killing.

Thompson said Somer's accused killer was being investigated by the state's cybercrime unit before the killing.

She disagrees with Scott’s plan to cut the unit.

“It's a huge mistake with disastrous endings to it,” said Thompson.

Mark Lunsford's daughter, Jessica, was raped and killed in 2005. He said the governor's cuts will mean more kids will become victims.

“The predators will laugh at you for the weakness that you're showing,” said Lunsford.

WFTV recently watched the cybercrime team in action.

Investigators posing as a 14-year-old girl online were solicited twice for sex in less than one hour.

The cybercrime unit, which made 268 arrests in the last five years, would be cut from 34 people to 15 people.

Lawmakers said a $3.75 billion deficit has put just about everything on the chopping block.