Sept. 12, 2008

Attorney General Corbett announces arrest of retired pastor from Allentown by Child Predator Unit; 160th Internet Predator arrest in PA

HARRISBURG - Attorney General Tom Corbett today announced that agents from the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit have arrested a retired pastor from Allentown accused of using the Internet to sexually proposition a 15-year old girl from Montgomery County.  He is the 160th arrest since the Child Predator Unit was created in January 2005.

Corbett identified the defendant as Paul A. Marmon, 62, 1897 Molinaro Drive, Allentown.

Corbett said that Marmon is accused of posing as a 19-year old boy and using Internet chat rooms and instant messages to contact and sexually proposition a 15-year old girl - telling her "you are so much more mature than most people think," "I wish I could be in your bedroom tonight," and "I want to make love to you right now."  Marmon also allegedly discussed marriage with the girl; left her presents at a park near her home; asked her if he could purchase special underwear for her; and requested nude photos and underwear belonging to the girl.

"Predators are actively using the Internet to search for young victims," Corbett said. "It is essential for parents to regularly discuss online safety with their children and encourage them to quickly report any suspicious contact with strangers - especially when they attempt to discuss sexual topics, offer gifts or try to arrange face-to-face meetings."

Corbett said that in this case, the girl became concerned about the online conversations with her online "friend" - known as "allentownhotguy" after speaking with him on the phone. 

Suspicious about his actual age, the girl told her parents, who notified the Lower Providence Township Police Department.  The police department, which has worked closely with the Attorney General's Office on other Internet predator investigations, contacted agents from the Child Predator Unit, who immediately launched an investigation.

Corbett said that on August 18th, with the consent of the girl's family, an undercover agent from the Child Predator Unit assumed the girl's Yahoo Internet profile.  At that time, agents discovered messages allegedly sent by Marmon that discussed his efforts to leave gifts for the girl at a park near her home. 

According to the criminal complaint, agents used directions provided by Marmon to locate a bag hidden under bushes in the park.  Inside the bag was a necklace, dried flowers and other items allegedly described by Marmon during online chats.

Corbett said that Marmon allegedly continued to discuss sexual activity with the undercover agent, now using the girl's online profile, suggesting that he would buy her special lingerie and instructing her to masturbate while wearing them - telling her, "You must think of me as you do it. each time."    Marmon also allegedly asked the girl if she would be able to keep these gifts secret from her parents.

According to the criminal complaint, Marmon approached the girl online on August 27th, asking if she would leave a pair of her panties at the location where he had left previous gifts.  Additionally, Marmon allegedly asked the girl if she could borrow a friend's digital camera in order to take nude photos of herself and send them to him.  At that time, Marmon allegedly indicated that he wanted to use the panties and photos to masturbate, and offered to leave several gifts in return, including underwear and other items from Victoria's Secret.

Corbett said that on September 2nd, agents observed an individual matching Marmon's description leaving a park in Lower Providence Township, driving a vehicle registered in his name.  The vehicle was stopped by officers from the Upper Perkiomen Regional Police Department. 

According to the criminal complaint, a bag containing items that had been left at the park by agents from the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit was located in Marmon's car.  Additionally, several bags containing Victoria's Secret underwear and other gift items were located during a search of the park.

Agents also executed a search warrant at Marmon's Lehigh County home, with the assistance of South Whitehall Township Police, seizing two computers and digital storage devices.  Those items will be analyzed by the Attorney General's Computer Forensics Unit as part of an ongoing investigation.

Marmon is charged with two counts of unlawful contact with a minor and one count 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.

Marmon was preliminarily arraigned on September 3rd before Collegeville Magisterial District Judge Benjamin Crahalla and lodged in the Montgomery County prison in lieu of
$1 million cash bail.  He was also ordered to have no unsupervised contact with minors and prohibited from using a computer. A preliminary hearing will be scheduled at a later date before Magisterial District Judge Crahalla. 

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

Corbett thanked the Lower Providence Township Police, the Upper Perkiomen Regional Police and the South Whitehall Township Police for their cooperation and assistance with this investigation.


Internet Dangers
Corbett cautioned parents and children to be alert for adults who sexually proposition them, send them explicit photos or webcam videos or attempt to arrange meetings.  Since the creation of the Child Predator Unit in January 2005, Corbett said that agents have arrested 160 Internet predators from Pennsylvania and several other states, including 46 arrests since the beginning of this year.

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 online communication to help use the Internet in a safe and responsible manner.

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: www.attorneygeneral.gov  (Click on the "Report an Internet Predator" link, located on the front page of the 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.  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

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

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