Child Predator Unit Nabs NY Man
Attorney General Tom Corbett announced that agents from the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit have arrested an upstate New York man accused of using the Internet to send sexually explicit webcam videos to what he believed was a 13-year-old girl from suburban Philadelphia. The "girl" was actually an undercover agent who was using the online profile of a young girl.
Corbett identified the defendant as Richard Lynn Alred, 45, 603 Hillingdon Way, Horseheads, NY.
Corbett said that Alred, a technician for a fire equipment company, allegedly used preteen Internet chat rooms to approach an undercover agent from the Child Predator Unit. During these initial chats, Alred allegedly used several different screen names and posed as teenage boys.
According to the criminal complaint, Alred repeatedly asked the undercover agents to send him nude photos, commenting, "I would love to see you with your shirt off and your bra off." At one point Alred allegedly offered to give the girl a digital camera or webcam so that she could send nude photos, telling her, "I can mail it to you," and "I will get you a webcam."
Corbett said that Alred expressed a desire to meet the girl for sex, stating, "I wanna take your clothes off," and, "I want you to be in my bed." He also allegedly described in graphic detail the sex acts he wished to perform with the girl and sent several webcam videos that showed him nude and masturbating in front of his computer.
Alred was taken into custody in Elmira, NY, on Thursday, January 22nd, by New York State Police, assisting the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit. He waived extradition in New York and was transported to Montgomery County, PA, where he was formally charged.
A search warrant executed at Alred's home resulted in the seizure of two computers, along with several digital cameras and webcam and various data storage devices. These items will be analyzed by the Attorney General's Computer Forensics Unit as part of an ongoing investigation.
Alred is charged with six 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.
Alred was preliminarily arraigned in Montgomery County on January 23rd, before Limerick Magisterial District Judge Walter Gadzicki and lodged in the Montgomery County Jail in lieu of $75,000 cash bail. He was also ordered to have no unsupervised contact with minors and is prohibited from using the Internet. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for January 29th, at 10 a.m., before Collegeville Magisterial District Judge Benjamin Crahalla.
Corbett thanked the New York State Police, Horseheads Barracks, for their cooperation and assistance with this investigation.
Corbett said that since its creation in January 2005, the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit has arrested 186 men from across Pennsylvania, along with several other states, all accused of using the Internet to attempt to sexually exploit children.
"Predators are using popular websites to search for potential victims, in many cases sending sexually graphic messages or photos during their first chats," Corbett said. "It is essential for parents to regularly discuss online safety with their children and encourage teens and pre-teens to immediately report anyone who tries to send them sexually explicit messages, photos or videos."
Corbett said that some predators try to arrange meetings with kids, while others send nude photos or sexually explicit videos - often within the first few minutes of an initial online chat. Computer and cell phone technology makes it fast and easy to send messages or images, and many of the men arrested by the Child Predator Unit began sexually graphic discussions during their first online conversations with what they believed were children.
Corbett added that colder temperatures have increased the online activity of both children and Internet predators. Over the past four weeks agents from the Child Predator Unit have made nine arrests, and agents have made a total of 36 arrests so far this fall and winter.
Corbett identified the defendant as Richard Lynn Alred, 45, 603 Hillingdon Way, Horseheads, NY.
Corbett said that Alred, a technician for a fire equipment company, allegedly used preteen Internet chat rooms to approach an undercover agent from the Child Predator Unit. During these initial chats, Alred allegedly used several different screen names and posed as teenage boys.
According to the criminal complaint, Alred repeatedly asked the undercover agents to send him nude photos, commenting, "I would love to see you with your shirt off and your bra off." At one point Alred allegedly offered to give the girl a digital camera or webcam so that she could send nude photos, telling her, "I can mail it to you," and "I will get you a webcam."Corbett said that Alred expressed a desire to meet the girl for sex, stating, "I wanna take your clothes off," and, "I want you to be in my bed." He also allegedly described in graphic detail the sex acts he wished to perform with the girl and sent several webcam videos that showed him nude and masturbating in front of his computer.
Alred was taken into custody in Elmira, NY, on Thursday, January 22nd, by New York State Police, assisting the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit. He waived extradition in New York and was transported to Montgomery County, PA, where he was formally charged.
A search warrant executed at Alred's home resulted in the seizure of two computers, along with several digital cameras and webcam and various data storage devices. These items will be analyzed by the Attorney General's Computer Forensics Unit as part of an ongoing investigation.
Alred is charged with six 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.
Alred was preliminarily arraigned in Montgomery County on January 23rd, before Limerick Magisterial District Judge Walter Gadzicki and lodged in the Montgomery County Jail in lieu of $75,000 cash bail. He was also ordered to have no unsupervised contact with minors and is prohibited from using the Internet. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for January 29th, at 10 a.m., before Collegeville Magisterial District Judge Benjamin Crahalla.
Corbett thanked the New York State Police, Horseheads Barracks, for their cooperation and assistance with this investigation.
Corbett said that since its creation in January 2005, the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit has arrested 186 men from across Pennsylvania, along with several other states, all accused of using the Internet to attempt to sexually exploit children.
"Predators are using popular websites to search for potential victims, in many cases sending sexually graphic messages or photos during their first chats," Corbett said. "It is essential for parents to regularly discuss online safety with their children and encourage teens and pre-teens to immediately report anyone who tries to send them sexually explicit messages, photos or videos."
Corbett said that some predators try to arrange meetings with kids, while others send nude photos or sexually explicit videos - often within the first few minutes of an initial online chat. Computer and cell phone technology makes it fast and easy to send messages or images, and many of the men arrested by the Child Predator Unit began sexually graphic discussions during their first online conversations with what they believed were children.
Corbett added that colder temperatures have increased the online activity of both children and Internet predators. Over the past four weeks agents from the Child Predator Unit have made nine arrests, and agents have made a total of 36 arrests so far this fall and winter.
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