April 2, 2009

Attorney General Corbett announces 200th arrest by Child Predator Unit; notes dramatic increase in online predator activity

HARRISBURG - Attorney General Tom Corbett today announced the arrest of more than 200 Internet predators since the creation of the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit in January 2005, including recent arrests in Pittsburgh, Greensburg, Altoona, Chambersburg, the Harrisburg area and New Jersey.

Corbett identified the defendants as:

• Carlos Ramon Harrison, 35, 4660 Sycamore Grove Road, Chambersburg.
• Timothy Edward Weidinger, 31, 416 Bach Ave., Greensburg.
• William L. Marcus, 46, 5904 Coventry Way, Mount Laurel, NJ.
• Timothy W. Senich, 61, 1112 Muldowney Ave., Pittsburgh.
• Abraham Sarver, 22, 308 Pine Ave., Altoona.
• Charles Aurelio Giuliani, 33, 79 Harvestview, Elizabethville.
• Robert A. Barner, 46, 569 Chesterfield Court, Harrisburg.

"The most recent arrests by the Child Predator Unit stretch from one end of Pennsylvania to the other," Corbett said. "They include men accused of traveling to meet children for sex, sending nude photos or videos to what they believed were young teens, and even allegedly purchasing a digital camera for a child - so that the girl could send nude photos of herself and friends."

Corbett said that in each of these cases, the predators believed they were communicating with 13- or 14-year old girls, though they were actually in contact with undercover agents from the Child Predator Unit who were using the online profiles of teens.

Corbett noted that the number of Internet predator arrests in Pennsylvania has escalated dramatically since the creation of the Child Predator Unit in 2005.

"During our first year of operation, in 2005, we made 27 arrests," Corbett said. "Last year, we almost tripled that number, with a total of 70 arrests - including five suspects who were arrested a second time because we discovered illegal child pornography on their computers following their initial arrest."

Corbett also pointed to a notable increase in the number of Internet predator cases over the past year.

"Including the seven arrests we are announcing today, we have apprehended 22 Internet predators in 2009," Corbett said. "Last year, during the same time period, we had 14 arrests - so we have seen a more than 50% jump in the number of cases since the start of the year."

Corbett said that every day, adults are using Internet chat rooms, message services, social networking sites and other online resources to search for vulnerable young victims. 

"The number of predators we have been able to identify and arrest has been growing rapidly, and it is vital that parents and children understand this threat," Corbett said. "We know that, because every day predators contact our undercover agents, believing they are young girls and boys."
 
Corbett said that it is essential for parents and other adults to understand the online threat and regularly discuss Internet safety with their children.

"Internet safety is not something to think about once in a while," Corbett said.  "Online safety should be an everyday priority, because I guarantee that there are predators out there right now, looking for kids who are not prepared."

Corbett encouraged parents to monitor how their children use the Internet, including:

• What websites they use.
• What social networking sites they may frequent (MySpace, Facebook, etc).
• The importance of not sharing personal information with strangers (names, ages, addresses, schools or other identifying information).
• Avoiding strangers who approach them online.
• Reporting any contact with individuals who engage in sexual discussions or attempt to send graphic photos or videos.

Corbett said that as the weather grows warmer and the school year draws to a close, more young people turn to their computers and online communities for entertainment or to stay in touch with their friends. 

"Predators know that online activity increases during this time of year, and they also know that more young people may be home unsupervised, either before or after school or during upcoming summer vacations," Corbett said. "Time and distance mean nothing to Internet predators because computer technology allows them to reach across the street, or across the country, to 'groom' young victims for sexual meetings or to flood their computers with explicit webcam videos, sexually graphic pictures or illegal child pornography."

"Children hold the key to their own safety at their fingertips," Corbett said. "How they use their computer, what websites they visit and who they communicate with has a direct impact on the possibility of encountering an online predator."

Corbett said that suspected Internet predators can be reported to the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit by using the "report a predator" link, located on the front page of the Attorney General's website, at www.attorneygeneral.gov.

Individuals with information about potential Internet predators can also call the Attorney General's Child Predator Hotline, at 1-800-385-1044.  Additionally, Corbett said that safety tips and other information are available in the "Operation Safe Surf" and "Just for Kids" sections of the Attorney General's website. Also, 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

Carlos Ramon Harrison

Corbett said that Harrison allegedly used Internet chat rooms to approach two different undercover agents from the Child Predator Unit, believing that they were 13- and 14-year-old girls.

According to the criminal complaint, Harrison sent a series of nude or sexually explicit photos to the "girls," including several that were sent during their initial chats - at one point cautioning one of the girls to keep the pictures secret, telling her, "don't let ur mom see u looking at that."

Harrison is also accused of engaging in graphic sexual discussions with the girls, including repeated statements about meeting the children for sex.

Harrison is charged with nine 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.

Timothy Edward Weidinger

Corbett said that Weidinger allegedly posed as a 16-year old boy when he initially approached an undercover agent in an Internet chat room - later telling the girl that he lied about his age because he was, "afraid u wuldn't talk 2 me."

According to the criminal complaint, Weidinger proposed meeting the girl for sex, expressing a desire to "take her virginity" and asked if he could keep a pair of the child's underwear.  Some of the online chats allegedly occurred while Weidinger was using a computer at the Greensburg public library.

Corbett said that Weidinger was arrested by agents from the Child Predator Unit, assisted by Pennsylvania State Police, after allegedly traveling by bus to a predetermined meeting location in Greensburg.

Weidinger is charged with one count of unlawful contact with a minor (related to involuntary deviate sexual intercourse), a first-degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $25,000 fine. 

Weidinger is also charged with three counts of unlawful contact with a minor (related to statutory sexual assault), a second degree felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine, along with one count of criminal use of a computer, a third-degree felony punishable by up to seven years in prison and a $15,000 fine.

William L. Marcus

Corbett said that Marcus is accused of using an Internet chat room to approach an undercover agent who was using the online profile of a 13-year-old girl.  During their initial chat, Marcus allegedly activated his webcam and offered to transmit photos of his penis.

According to the criminal complaint, Marcus later sent two nude webcam videos to the girl, including one transmission that showed him masturbating in front of his computer.  He also allegedly expressed a desire to meet the girl and engage in oral sex.

Marcus 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.

Timothy W. Senich

Corbett said that Senich allegedly used an Internet chat room to contact an undercover agent who was using the online profile of a 13-year-old girl. 

According to the criminal complaint, Senich asked the girl if she was interested in posing for some "sexy" pictures on his motorcycle.  Senich also allegedly offered to purchase a digital camera as a 14th birthday present for the girl, if she agreed to send him nude photos of herself.

Corbett said that Senich allegedly instructed the girl to masturbate and directed her to a website used to view pornographic videos, pointing out specific videos that she should watch. Senich also allegedly sent the girl nude webcam videos of himself.

Senich is charged with three counts of unlawful contact with a minor (related to sexual abuse of children), a second-degree felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and $25,000 fines.

Senich is also charged with four 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.

Abraham Sarver

Corbett said that Sarver allegedly used an Internet chat room to approach an undercover agent who was using the profile of a 13-year old girl, quickly asking her questions about her appearance and sexual activity and offering to send her a webcam video.

According to the criminal complaint, Sarver sent a webcam transmission during their first online chat, showing him nude and masturbating in front of his computer.  He is also accused of instructing the girl to masturbate and sending her instructions to visit a pornographic website.

Additionally, Corbett said that Sarver allegedly pressured the girl to get a digital camera so that she could send him nude photos, and also suggested that they run away together to Canada or Mexico.

Sarver is charged with three 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.

Charles Aurelio Giuliani

Corbett said that Giuliani is accused of using an online chat room to approach what he believed was a 14-year old girl, quickly sending her a nude photo of his genitalia - asking her, "you like that?"

According to the criminal charges, Giuliani questioned the girl about her sexual experience and told the agent that he had allegedly engaged in a relationship with a 15-year old girl.

Giuliani 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.

Robert A. Barner

Corbett said that Barner allegedly used an Internet chat room to approach an undercover agent who was using the online profile of a 13-year old girl.  During their initial chat, Barner allegedly asked the girl, "what do you like about sexual things."

According to the criminal complaint, Barner expressed a desire to meet the girl for sex and sent her a nude photo of his penis during their second online chat.  He also described in graphic detail the sex acts he wished to engage in when he met the girl.

Corbett said that Barner was arrested on Wednesday, April 1st by agents from the Child Predator Unit, assisted by Swatara Township Police, when he arrived at a predetermined meeting location in Swatara Township, Dauphin County.

Barner is charged with one count of unlawful contact with a minor (related to involuntary deviate sexual intercourse), a first-degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $25,000 fine. 

Barner is also charged with one count of unlawful contact with a minor (related to statutory sexual assault), a second degree felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine, along with one count of criminal use of a computer, a third-degree felony punishable by up to seven years in prison and a $15,000 fine.

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

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