Attorney General Josh Shapiro Announces Felony Charges Against Five Child Predators in Northeast PA

April 25, 2018 | Topic: Criminal

AG Shapiro: “My office will prosecute anyone who preys on children to the fullest extent of the law.”

HARRISBURG — Attorney General Josh Shapiro today announced felony charges against five child predators in Northeast Pennsylvania after each was caught in an online operation run by the Office of Attorney General’s Child Predator Section.

The five defendants were arrested during a weekend roundup after attempting to meet Office of Attorney General agents online who posed as 14-year-old minors. In separate incidents, the five accused predators solicited sex from an undercover agent – believing the agent was a minor child. Each of the defendants were arrested at a meeting location in Northeast Pennsylvania known only to the agents and perpetrators.

“My office will prosecute anyone who preys on children to the fullest extent of the law,” Attorney General Shapiro said. “Thanks to strong collaboration between the Pennsylvania State Police, Monroe County DA’s Office, Lackawanna County DA’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations and my Child Predator Section, we conducted this operation, arrested these predators and got them off our streets.”

These arrests were a part of an overall investigation that led to charges against 11 defendants on various child predator offenses.  In addition to the five defendants being prosecuted by the Attorney General Shapiro’s office, six others will be prosecuted locally by the Monroe County District Attorney’s office and Lackawanna County District Attorney’s office.

The following defendants being prosecuted by the Attorney General’s office are charged with unlawful contact with a minor, criminal use of a communication facility and related offenses:

  • Brian Boehm, 33, of Cheryl Avenue, Wallingford, CT
  • Ryan Brislin, 35, of Willow Street, Wilkes Barre
  • Joseph Ciccone, 35, of Eagle Path, Bushkill
  • Mark Centeno, 27, of Landis Street, Scranton
  • Renchie Cainglet, 33, of Heisz Street, Edwardsville

Investigators noted that Cainglet is employed as a registered nurse at Wilkes Barre General Hospital.

Bail for Boehm was set at $500,000 with no preliminary hearing yet scheduled. Bail for Brislin was set at $35,000 and Ciccone at $50,000, with hearings scheduled for April 30. Bail for Centeno was set at $75,000; a hearing is scheduled for April 30. Bail was not yet set for Cainglet, his hearing is scheduled for May 7.

Suspected predators can be reported by calling the Child Predator Hotline at 1-800-385-1044. Submit a tip on child predators by texting “PAKIDS” followed by your tip to 847411. The five cases will be prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Angela Raver.

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