August 22, 2008

Attorney General Corbett announces Internet Predator arrests in Allegheny & Clearfield counties, including a Pittsburgh area school teacher

Nicholas E. Salvo

Robert C. Dunlap

HARRISBURG - Attorney General Tom Corbett today announced that agents from the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit have arrested two men, including a high school science teacher from the Pittsburgh area along with a factory worker from Clearfield County, both accused of using the Internet to send sexually explicit photos and videos to what they believed were young girls.  The "girls" were actually undercover agents from the Child Predator Unit who were using the online profiles of children.

Corbett identified the defendants as Nicholas E. Salvo, 34, 60 Rocklynn Place, Pittsburgh and Robert C. Dunlap, 36, 716 Good St., Houtzdale.

Corbett said that Salvo and Dunlap are both accused of Internet chat rooms to sexually solicit what they believed were 13 or 14-year old girls.  Both men also allegedly sent nude or sexually graphic photos and webcam videos to the girls.

"Internet predators are aggressively using chat room and teen networking sites to search for young victims online, quickly escalating conversations to include discussions about sex and the transmission of nude photos and webcam videos," Corbett said.  "It is essential for parents to understand that many predators will send sexually graphic materials within minutes of contacting a child, and continue to repeat that behavior until they are caught."

Nicholas E. Salvo
Corbett said that Salvo, using the screen name "1 thick daddy," allegedly used a teen chat room to contact an undercover agent from the Child Predator Unit who was using the online profile of a 14-year old girl.  Within minutes of that initial contact, on July 3rd, Salvo allegedly sent a private message to the girl, asking what her measurements were and telling her, "I like younger girls."

According to the criminal complaint, Salvo told the girl that he was watching online pornography and then sent her a webcam video that showed his exposed penis.  During other chats that followed, Salvo made reference to the nude video, asking the girl, "did you enjoy the other night," and telling her, "you got to see a big one, too."  Salvo also allegedly sent additional webcam video showing him masturbating in front of his computer. 

Additionally, Corbett said that Salvo allegedly posted a message on a public teen chat forum asking, "Are there any hot girls here for a sexy, older man," and expressing a desire to send nude webcam videos to any girls that responded.

Salvo was arrested at his home on Thursday, August 21st, by agents from the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit, assisted by Mt. Lebanon Police.  Agents also executed a search warrant at Salvo's home, seizing a computer and data storage devices which will be analyzed by the Attorney General's Computer Forensics Unit.

Salvo is charged with two counts of unlawful contact with a minor, one count of attempted unlawful contact with a minor and two counts of criminal use of a computer, all third-degree felonies which are each punishable by up to seven years in prison and $15,000 fines.

Salvo was preliminarily arraigned in Allegheny County Night Court and lodged in the Allegheny County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bail.  He was also ordered to undergo a behavioral analysis.  A preliminary hearing scheduled for August 28th, at 1:30 p.m., before Mt. Lebanon Magisterial District Justice Blaise Larotonda.

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

Corbett thanked the Mt. Lebanon Police Department for their cooperation and assistance with this investigation.

Robert C. Dunlap
Corbett said that Dunlap, using the screen name "rcdunlap1971," allegedly used an Internet chat room to approach an undercover agent from the Child Predator Unit who was using the online profile of a 13-year old girl.  During that initial conversation, Dunlap allegedly asked the girl her age, requested photos of the girl, and then proceeded to send a nude webcam video.

According to the criminal complaint, while sending the nude webcam video Dunlap asked the girl, "would you touch it," and expressed a desire to engage in other sexual activity with the child.

Dunlap was arrested at his home on Thursday, August 21st, by agents from the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit, assisted by Pennsylvania State Police from the Clearfield Barracks.  Agents also executed a search warrant at Dunlap's home, seizing two computers and a webcam, which will be analyzed by the Attorney General's Computer Forensics Unit as part of an ongoing investigation.

Dunlap is charged with one count of unlawful contact with a minor and one count of criminal use of a computer, both third-degree felonies which are each punishable by up to seven years in prison and $15,000 fines.

Dunlap was preliminarily arraigned before Houtzdale Magisterial District Judge James L. Hawkins and lodged in the Clearfield County Jail in lieu of $75,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 27th, at 9:30 a.m.

Dunlap will be prosecuted in Clearfield County by Deputy Attorney General Michael A. Sprow of the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit.

Corbett thanked the Pennsylvania State Police, Clearfield Barracks, for their cooperation and assistance with this investigation. 

Summer Internet Dangers
Corbett said has been a notable increase in activity by online predators during the summer months - cautioning parents and children to be alert for adults who sexually proposition them or attempt to arrange meetings.  Since the start of June, the Child Predator Unit has arrested 13 Internet predators from across Pennsylvania.

Since the creation of the Child Predator Unit in January 2005, Corbett said that agents have arrested 157 Internet predators from Pennsylvania and several other states, including 41 arrests since the beginning of this year.

"Predators will always be drawn to locations that give them the greatest access to the largest number of potential victims," Corbett said. "Today, they stalk a variety of online sites, including chat rooms; social networking websites like MySpace and Facebook; Internet message boards; video game sites; and even online classified ads on Craigslist.com."

Corbett noted that the techniques used by Internet predators change rapidly, spurred by developments in communication technology and changes in where and how children communicate online.  He added that predators will communicate with children in many different ways, using public or private online chat rooms, instant message programs, text messages, email, cell phones and webcams.

At the start of the summer Corbett was joined by representatives from the Pennsylvania Parent Teacher Association, the Pennsylvania State Education Association, the Pennsylvania School Boards Association and the Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals, to launch "Operation Summer Surf" - reminding parents and teens across Pennsylvania to regularly discuss online safety and remain vigilant.

Operation Summer Surf is an expansion of the Attorney General's popular "Operation Safe Surf" Internet safety education program, which was created in October 2006 and has now reached nearly 160,000 children and adults from across the state.

Corbett encouraged parents to discuss Internet safety with their children, including the danger of meeting strangers who approach them online. He also advised that parents ask their children to show them what they are doing online, setting ground rules for summer online communication to help kids use the Internet safely and in a responsible manner.

Operation Safe Surf and Operation Summer Surf materials are provided free-of-charge to schools and community groups.  Organizations interested in materials, speakers or presentations, contact the Attorney General's Education and Outreach Office at 1-800-525-7642 or via email at education@attorneygeneral.gov

Suspected internet predators can be reported to the Attorney General's Office by calling the toll-free Child Predator Hotline, at 1-800-385-1044, or filing an online complaint using the Attorney General's website.

Internet safety tips and other information for parents, children and teachers are available in the "Operation Safe Surf" and "Just for Kids" sections of the Attorney General's website.

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

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