March 29, 2007

Attorney General Corbett announces arrest of West Virginia youth basketball coach in Internet "child sex sting;" 67th arrest by Child Predator Unit

HARRISBURG - Attorney General Tom Corbett today announced that agents from the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit have filed criminal charges against a youth basketball coach from West Virginia who is accused of using an Internet chat room to sexually proposition what he believed was a 13-year old girl, as well as sending nude photographs to the girl.

Corbett identified the defendant as Kurt D. Elias, 35, of Wellsburg, West Virginia.

According to the criminal complaint, Elias, using the screen name "lonelyman0707," initially approached the girl in an Internet chat room on January 23, 2007.  The "girl" was actually an undercover agent from the Child Predator Unit who was using the online profile of a 13-year old child.

Corbett said that during their initial chat, Elias allegedly confirmed the girl's age and identified himself as a 35-year old man from southwestern Pennsylvania, stating that he was looking for someone "who isn't afraid to meet and cuddle with," adding that "it's risky with your age." 

According to the criminal charges, Elias quickly turned the chat toward sexual topics and proposed a face-to-face meeting with the girl, asking if he could tie her up and describing the various sex acts he wished to perform. Later, Elias allegedly told the girl "we could be secret lovers" and added that "your first is going to be awesome."

Corbett said that immediately following their initial chat, Elias allegedly used a photo-sharing program to send three nude photographs to the child.

The criminal charges state that over the next several weeks Elias engaged in a series of chats with the child, repeatedly proposing that they meet and describing in graphic detail the sex acts he wished to perform with the girl.

Corbett said that Elias allegedly promised to buy the child a cellular phone if she would engage in oral sex and sent additional nude photographs to the girl.  He also allegedly instructed the child to masturbate and indicated that he was masturbating during their online conversations.

Elias was arrested today in Wellsburg, West Virginia by the Brooke County (WV) Sheriff's Department, which assisted agents from the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit.  Elias is currently being held in the Northern Regional Jail, Moundsville, WV, on $200,000 bond, pending extradition to Pennsylvania.

Elias is charged with four counts of unlawful contact with a minor and one count of criminal use of a computer, all third-degree felonies punishable by up to seven years in prison and a $15,000 fine.

Elias will be prosecuted in Allegheny County by Deputy Attorney General William Caye of the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit.

Corbett thanked the Brooke County (WV) Sheriff's Department for their cooperation and assistance with this investigation.

Corbett noted that Elias is the 67th suspected child predator to be arrested in Pennsylvania since the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit was created in January 2005.

"Parents and children need to understand the threat posed by online predators and report suspicious activity immediately," Corbett said. "I urge anyone with information about suspected child predators to contact the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit at 1-800-385-1044 or use the Attorney General's website - www.attorneygeneral.gov - to file an online complaint."

Additionally, Corbett said parents and children can learn more about online safety by visiting the "Operation Safe Surf" and "Just 4 Kids"  sections of the Attorney General's website.

(A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty.)

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