June 5, 2009

Attorney General Corbett announces arrest of four Internet predators in Bucks, Carbon & Lancaster counties along with Mass.; stresses summer safety

Christopher Hassler

Richard Rogers

Christopher McGee

Richard DeCroce

HARRISBURG - Attorney General Tom Corbett announced that agents from the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit have arrested four men during the past week, all accused of using the Internet to sexually proposition and send explicit photos to what they believed were children.  The arrests were made in Bucks, Carbon and Lancaster counties, along with the state of Massachusetts.

Corbett identified the defendants as:
" Christopher L. Hassler, 24, 103 North 10th St., Akron, Lancaster County.
" Richard Brian Rogers, 45, 714 Chapin St., Ludlow, MA.
" Christopher Brian McGee, 39, 223 North Olds Blvd., Fairless Hills, Bucks County.
" Richard J. DeCroce, 51, 230 Penn Forest Road North, Kunkletown, Carbon County.

"Predators are aggressively using Internet websites, chat rooms, instant message programs and other technology to search for children they can sexually abuse," Corbett said. "Now that summer vacation season has arrived, it is essential for parents to discuss online safety with their children, including the importance of reporting any situation where strangers engage in sexually explicit chats, attempt to arrange meetings or send graphic photos or videos."

Corbett noted that the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit has arrested 218 online predators since it was created in January 2005, including 41 arrests since the beginning of this year.

"We have seen a substantial increase in activity by online predators so far in 2009, with a nearly 40% increase in the number of cases compared to last year," Corbett said. "We also know that summer typically triggers a jump in the number of incidents involving online predators, with many young people spending additional time online and longer periods of time home alone or unsupervised."

Corbett stressed that predators will take advantage of whatever opportunities they have to reach out to children.  Recent arrests by the Child Predator Unit include a Texas man who flew to Pittsburgh to meet what he believed was a 14-year old girl, a Harrisburg area man accused of discussing dressing up in animal costumes and arranging to meet a 15-year old boy for sex, along with a registered sex offender who allegedly used unsecured wireless Internet connections in his suburban Philadelphia neighborhood to send nude webcam videos to what he thought was a 13-year old girl.

"Personal security and home network security should be regular topics of discussion for every family that uses the Internet, cell phones, online game systems or any other device that can give a predator access to your home," Corbett said.

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.

"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.org."

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. 

"It is essential for parents to understand how quickly online conversations can progress from initial contact to sexually explicit content," Corbett said. "Often, predators will begin a sexually graphic discussion within minutes of contacting a child, and many suspects transmit nude photos or explicit videos during their first online meeting."

Christopher L. Hassler
Corbett said that Hassler allegedly used an online chat room to approach an undercover agent who was using the online profile of a 13-year old girl. 

According to the criminal complaint, Hassler sent the "girl" several nude photos of himself, along with a nude photo of a woman he claimed was his girlfriend.  Hassler also urged the girl to keep the photos secret, telling her they were "just between me an u," and adding, "I'm sure ur parents wouldn't like it."

Hassler was arrested on May 28th by agents from the Child Predator Unit, assisted by officers from the Akron Police Department.  He was lodged in the Lancaster County Jail in lieu of $150,000 bail pending the scheduling of a preliminary hearing.

Hassler 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.

Richard Brian Rogers
Corbett said that Rogers allegedly used an Internet chat room to approach what he believed was a 13-year old girl.  Rogers was actually communicating with an undercover agent using the online profile of a child.

According to the criminal complaint, Rogers asked about the girl's body and breasts, along with her sexual experience, during their first online conversation, telling her, "I've done it with girls your age before. its really kewl. I met one from a friend's daughter and other lived on my street."

Corbett said that during a series of chats that followed, Rogers allegedly sent the girl Internet links to a series of pornographic photos and videos, including pictures believed to be nude children or videos of children engaging in sexual activity with adults.  Rogers also allegedly discussed traveling to Pittsburgh to visit the "girl," and encouraged her to masturbate in preparation for their meeting.

Rogers was arrested outside his home on May 27th by officers from the Ludlow Massachusetts Police Department, who were assisting agents from the Child Predator Unit.  Officers from the New London Connecticut Police Department also assisted the investigation by executing a search warrant at Roger's business address in Connecticut, seizing two laptop computers that will be analyzed by the Attorney General's Computer Forensics Unit.

Rogers is charged with 16 counts of sexual abuse of children (related to dissemination or possession of child pornography), four counts of criminal use of a computer, three counts of attempted obscene or sexual performances and two counts of unlawful contact with a minor, all third-degree felonies which are each punishable by up to seven years in prison and $15,000 fines.

Rogers waived extradition and was returned to Pittsburgh, where he was preliminarily arraigned on June 1st.  Rogers was lodged in the Allegheny County Jail in lieu of $250,000 straight bail, awaiting a preliminary hearing scheduled for June 9th.

Christopher Brian McGee
Corbett said that McGee, using the screen name "horngogg69761," allegedly used an Internet chat room to approach an undercover agent who was using the online profile of a 13-year old girl, telling her that she looked "awesome" and expressing a desire to send her photos that were not "g rated."

According to the criminal complaint, McGee included a photo of a penis in his instant message window during a subsequent online chat, and later sent a webcam video that showed him nude and masturbating in front of his computer.  McGee also allegedly expressed a desire to meet the girl for sex, but cautioned that any meeting would "have to be a secret." 

Corbett noted that McGee allegedly used unsecure wireless Internet connections in his neighborhood to conduct his online conversations with the "girl."  He urged all Internet users who have wireless connections as part of their home networks to use passwords and other security features to prevent unauthorized access.

McGee was arrested at his home on June 3rd by agents from the Child Predator Unit, who were assisted by officers from the Fairless Hills Police Department. 

McGee 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 in fines.

McGee was preliminarily arraigned before Fallsington Magisterial District Judge Jan Vislosky and lodged in the Bucks County Jail in lieu of $950,000 bail, awaiting a preliminary hearing.

Corbett noted that Falls Township Police and Pennsylvania State Police are investigating possible violations of Pennsylvania's requirement that out-of-state sex offenders register when they relocate to the Commonwealth.

Richard J. DeCroce
Corbett said that DeCroce allegedly used an Internet chat room to approach what he believed was a 13-year old girl.  The "girl" was actually an undercover agent from the Child Predator Unit.

According to the criminal complaint, DeCroce repeatedly expressed a desire to send explicit webcam videos to the girl, encouraging her to "lie about your age" in an attempt to avoid problems with law enforcement.  DeCroce allegedly asked the girl to contact him via telephone, telling her, "have to be sure your not a guy or cop."

Corbett said that while DeCroce was speaking by phone with an undercover agent from the Child Predator Unit he allegedly activated his webcam, removed his pants and sent video of himself masturbating in front of his computer. During a series of chats that followed, DeCroce allegedly sent several other sexually explicit webcam videos and asked the girl to send him nude photographs.

DeCroce was arrested on June 3rd by agents from the Child Predator Unit, assisted by Pennsylvania State Police from the Lehighton Barracks. 

DeCroce is charged with 13 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.

DeCroce was preliminarily arraigned before Lansford Magisterial District Judge Casimir T. Kosciolek and lodged in the Carbon County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.  A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 10th before Palmerton Magisterial District Judge Bruce F. Appleton.
 
Corbett said that Rogers will be prosecuted in Allegheny County by Deputy Attorney General William F. Caye II of the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit.

Hassler, McGee and DeCroce will be prosecuted in Lancaster, Bucks and Carbon counties, respectively, by Deputy Attorney General Michael A. Sprow.

Corbett thanked the police departments from Akron, Fairless Hills, Falls Township and Pennsylvania State Police, along with the Ludlow Massachusetts Police Department and New London Connecticut Police Department for their cooperation and assistance with these investigations.

Reporting Online Predators
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, may 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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