Two More Predator Unit Arrests
HARRISBURG - Attorney General Tom Corbett today announced that agents from the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit have arrested two Dauphin County men who both are accused of using the Internet to sexually proposition what they believed were young girls, as well as sending sexually explicit photos or traveling to meet the children. The "girls" were actually undercover agents from the Child Predator Unit who were using the online profiles of young teens.
Corbett identified the defendants as John Frank Geist, 49, 1019 Chestnut Place, Hummelstown, and Hiram Eugene Staley, 30, 202 Cameron Ave., Hummelstown.
"Both of these men are accused of using Internet chat rooms to contact and sexually proposition what they believed were young girls," Corbett said. "It is important for parents to understand how quickly online conversations between their children and strangers can progress to sexual conversations, the transmission of graphic photos or webcam videos and, in some cases, attempts to arrange face-to-face meetings for sex."
Corbett said that Geist allegedly approached an undercover agent on October 9th, quickly offering to send the girl "dirty pictures" and asking her, "do you want to meet someplace public this afternoon?" At the time, the agent was using the online profile of a 14-year old girl. According to the criminal complaint, Geist sent the girl three sexually explicit photos during their first chat, telling her, "keep my photos private please." He also allegedly asked the girl if she would engage in oral sex and explained in graphic detail the sex acts he wished to perform when they met.
Corbett said that Geist was arrested the day after his initial contact with the girl, when he arrived at a predetermined meeting location in Swatara Township, Dauphin County. At the time of his arrest Geist was driving a vehicle and wearing clothing that matched descriptions he had provided during online chats the previous afternoon.
Geist 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.
Geist is also charged with one count of unlawful contact with a minor (related to aggravated indecent assault), a second-degree felony punishable by up to ten years in prison and a $25,000 fine.
Additionally, Geist is charged with one count each of unlawful contact with a minor (related to indecent assault), unlawful contact with a minor (related to obscene or sexual performances) and criminal use of a computer, all third-degree felonies which are each punishable by up to seven years in prison and $15,000 fines.
Geist was preliminarily arraigned on October 10th before Harrisburg Magisterial District Judge Michael J. Smith, who set bail at $50,000 and ordered Geist to have no unsupervised contact with minors and no use of the Internet. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 31st, at 11 a.m., before Magisterial District Judge Smith.
Corbett thanked the Swatara Township Police Department for their cooperation and assistance with this investigation.
Corbett said that Staley allegedly engaged in a series of online chats with an undercover agent who was using the profile of a 13-year old girl, repeatedly asking the girl if she would engage in sexual activity. Staley is also accused of sending the girl a webcam video that showed him masturbating in front of his computer. According to the criminal complaint, Staley described in graphic detail the sex acts he wished to perform with the girl and also instructed her to masturbate on several occasions. Staley also allegedly asked the girl to call him, and provided a cell phone number, explaining that he wanted to "talk dirty" to the child and listen to her as she masturbated.
Staley allegedly moved several times during the course of the investigation, using a number of different Dauphin County addresses to chat with the undercover agent, including Harrisburg, Hummelstown, Middletown and Halifax. He is also accused of using the homes of relatives to engage in sexually explicit online conversations.
Corbett said that Staley is currently being held in Monroe County on charges related to a similar online investigation conducted by the Barrett Township Police Department. Agents from the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit traveled to Monroe County to arrest Staley, who will be arraigned via video before Royalton (Dauphin County) Magisterial District Judge David H. Judy.
Corbett said that Geist and Staley will both be prosecuted in Dauphin County by Deputy Attorney General Michael A. Sprow of the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit.
Internet Dangers
Corbett said that since the creation of the Child Predator Unit in January 2005, agents have arrested 169 Internet predators from across Pennsylvania and several other states, including 57 arrests so far this year.
Corbett cautioned parents and children to be alert for adults who sexually proposition them, send explicit photos or videos or try to arrange face-to-face meetings. He encouraged parents to discuss Internet safety with their children, including the danger of meeting strangers who approach them online, and advised parents to ask their children to show them what they are doing online.
Corbett noted 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, or by calling the Child Predator Hotline, at 1-800-385-1044.
Internet safety tips and other information 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.
Corbett identified the defendants as John Frank Geist, 49, 1019 Chestnut Place, Hummelstown, and Hiram Eugene Staley, 30, 202 Cameron Ave., Hummelstown.
"Both of these men are accused of using Internet chat rooms to contact and sexually proposition what they believed were young girls," Corbett said. "It is important for parents to understand how quickly online conversations between their children and strangers can progress to sexual conversations, the transmission of graphic photos or webcam videos and, in some cases, attempts to arrange face-to-face meetings for sex."
Corbett said that Geist allegedly approached an undercover agent on October 9th, quickly offering to send the girl "dirty pictures" and asking her, "do you want to meet someplace public this afternoon?" At the time, the agent was using the online profile of a 14-year old girl. According to the criminal complaint, Geist sent the girl three sexually explicit photos during their first chat, telling her, "keep my photos private please." He also allegedly asked the girl if she would engage in oral sex and explained in graphic detail the sex acts he wished to perform when they met.Corbett said that Geist was arrested the day after his initial contact with the girl, when he arrived at a predetermined meeting location in Swatara Township, Dauphin County. At the time of his arrest Geist was driving a vehicle and wearing clothing that matched descriptions he had provided during online chats the previous afternoon.
Geist 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.
Geist is also charged with one count of unlawful contact with a minor (related to aggravated indecent assault), a second-degree felony punishable by up to ten years in prison and a $25,000 fine.
Additionally, Geist is charged with one count each of unlawful contact with a minor (related to indecent assault), unlawful contact with a minor (related to obscene or sexual performances) and criminal use of a computer, all third-degree felonies which are each punishable by up to seven years in prison and $15,000 fines.
Geist was preliminarily arraigned on October 10th before Harrisburg Magisterial District Judge Michael J. Smith, who set bail at $50,000 and ordered Geist to have no unsupervised contact with minors and no use of the Internet. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 31st, at 11 a.m., before Magisterial District Judge Smith.
Corbett thanked the Swatara Township Police Department for their cooperation and assistance with this investigation.
Corbett said that Staley allegedly engaged in a series of online chats with an undercover agent who was using the profile of a 13-year old girl, repeatedly asking the girl if she would engage in sexual activity. Staley is also accused of sending the girl a webcam video that showed him masturbating in front of his computer. According to the criminal complaint, Staley described in graphic detail the sex acts he wished to perform with the girl and also instructed her to masturbate on several occasions. Staley also allegedly asked the girl to call him, and provided a cell phone number, explaining that he wanted to "talk dirty" to the child and listen to her as she masturbated.Staley allegedly moved several times during the course of the investigation, using a number of different Dauphin County addresses to chat with the undercover agent, including Harrisburg, Hummelstown, Middletown and Halifax. He is also accused of using the homes of relatives to engage in sexually explicit online conversations.
Corbett said that Staley is currently being held in Monroe County on charges related to a similar online investigation conducted by the Barrett Township Police Department. Agents from the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit traveled to Monroe County to arrest Staley, who will be arraigned via video before Royalton (Dauphin County) Magisterial District Judge David H. Judy.
Corbett said that Geist and Staley will both be prosecuted in Dauphin County by Deputy Attorney General Michael A. Sprow of the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit.
Internet Dangers
Corbett said that since the creation of the Child Predator Unit in January 2005, agents have arrested 169 Internet predators from across Pennsylvania and several other states, including 57 arrests so far this year.
Corbett cautioned parents and children to be alert for adults who sexually proposition them, send explicit photos or videos or try to arrange face-to-face meetings. He encouraged parents to discuss Internet safety with their children, including the danger of meeting strangers who approach them online, and advised parents to ask their children to show them what they are doing online.
Corbett noted 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, or by calling the Child Predator Hotline, at 1-800-385-1044.
Internet safety tips and other information 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.
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