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Attorney General Corbett Announces 100th Arrest By Child Predator Unit; Mercer and Westmoreland County Men Are Most Recent Predator Arrests

Posted on: Friday, 12 October 2007, 15:00 CDT

HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Attorney General Tom Corbett today announced that agents from the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit have made their 100th Internet predator arrest since the unit was created in January 2005.

"Children across Pennsylvania are being sexually propositioned by Internet predators on a regular basis," Corbett said. "Predators come from all ages, all backgrounds, and every size community, but they all share a common desire to sexually victimize children."

Corbett said that Scott Logan, 29, of 510 Highland Ave., Greensburg, was taken into custody on Friday, October 12th, by agents from the Child Predator Unit. Logan is the 100th Internet predator to be arrested by the unit.

Corbett added that earlier this week, on Wednesday, October 10th, agents arrested Christopher Lee Glaister, 29, of 200 Quince St., Mercer -- the 99th arrest by the Child Predator Unit.

Both Logan and Glaister are accused of using Internet chat rooms to sexually proposition undercover agents who were using the online profiles of young girls. Both men also allegedly sent nude or sexually explicit photos to the girls.

Corbett explained that the Child Predator Unit was created in 2005 to conduct proactive undercover investigations, in order to identify and capture Internet predators before they can harm children. Additionally, the unit presents educational programs to schools and community groups across Pennsylvania, teaching children and parents about online safety.

"High-speed Internet connections and inexpensive digital cameras and webcams make it quick and easy for online predators to send and receive sexually explicit information from the comfort and safety of their homes," Corbett said. "Unsuspecting children who wander into chat rooms or social networking websites can quickly find themselves inundated with obscene images and sexual proposals."

Corbett said that Christopher Glaister, who was arrested by agents on Wednesday, is accused of using Internet chat rooms to sexually proposition three different 13-year old girls -- all undercover profiles belonging to agents from the Child Predator Unit. Between May and August 2007, Glaister allegedly sent nude photos to the girls, and repeatedly asked the girls to send him nude photos of themselves or their mothers.

According to the criminal complaint, Glaister also expressed an interest in developing a sexual relationship with the mothers of the girl, telling one child, "(I) would love to have sex with her (the child's mother) and you, both at the same time."

Corbett said that Scott Logan, arrested this morning by the Child Predator unit, is accused of using a teenage Internet chat room to sexually proposition what he believed was a 13-year old girl. After proposing that they engage in a private chat, Logan allegedly sent the girl a nude photo of an adult male, adding that he had more "naughty pics" available.

According to the criminal complaint, Logan sent a total of four sexually explicit photos to the undercover agent after she had identified herself as a 13-year old girl. All of the photos were allegedly sent during Logan's initial chat with the girl.

Glaister is charged with 3 counts of unlawful contact with a minor, three counts of attempted obscene or sexual performances and three counts of criminal use of a computer. All of those charges are third-degree felonies, each punishable by up to seven years in prison and a $15,000 fine.

Glaister was preliminarily arraigned on October 10th, and lodged in the Mercer County Jail in lieu of $30,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 19, 2007, before Mercer Magisterial District Judge Lorinda Hinch.

Corbett thanked the Mercer Borough Police Department for their cooperation and assistance with this investigation.

Glaister will be prosecuted in Mercer County by Deputy Attorney General William F. Caye II, of the Attorney General's Child Predator unit.

Corbett said that Logan 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 a $15,000 fine.

Logan will be transported to Dauphin County for prosecution by Deputy Attorney General Michael A. Sprow, of the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit.

Corbett explained that many of the predators who contact undercover agents launch into sexually explicit conversations during their first online chat, as demonstrated by these two most recent arrests. He added that it has become increasingly common for predators to send nude photos or webcam videos within minutes of contacting what they believe are teenage girls or boys, as allegedly occurred in these cases. Additionally, the Child Predator Unit has arrested numerous men who have traveled across Pennsylvania, or who have come from other states, in the hope of meeting a child for sex.

"The Internet is a wonderful tool for information and communication, but not every section of the World Wide Web is appropriate for children," Corbett said. "Child Predators have moved from the real-life playground or school yard to the virtual playground of chat rooms and social networking sites -- where they can hide their identities and their true intentions until they come across a potential victim."

Corbett said that the men arrested by the Child Predator Unit covers a broad range of backgrounds:

-- Dr. Kenneth Tolman, a radiologist from Pittsburgh. -- Edward Berzins, a police officer from New Jersey.

-- Professor David Eller, a religious studies professor from Lancaster County.

-- Thomas Vascotto, a horse-breeder from Kentucky. -- Shawn Mason, a substitute teacher and coach from Virginia. -- Jason Kokinda, an auto mechanic from Berks County. -- James Whitman, a construction worker from McKean County.

Corbett said that Eller and Whitman are both currently serving 10-year state prison sentences, following guilty pleas. The others listed above are all still awaiting trial. To date, the Child Predator Unit has a 100% conviction rate.

Corbett said that the primary goal of the Child Predator Unit is to capture Internet predators before they can harm children, but added that several of the men arrested and prosecuted by the unit have later been charged with having sexual contact with real children.

Corbett said the most disturbing example of Internet predators victimizing actual children involves David Mayberry, a printer and scout leader from Montgomery County who was arrested after traveling to Bucks County to meet an undercover agent posing as a child. Following his arrest, agents learned that Mayberry, who is HIV-positive, had unprotected sexual contact with a 14-year old boy. Mayberry was convicted on all charges related to his meeting with the undercover agent and pleaded guilty or no-contest to all charges related to his sexual assault of the boy. He is currently awaiting sentencing in both cases.

Corbett urged parents to regularly talk to their children about online dangers and to immediately report any predator who sexually solicits children or attempts to send them sexually graphic material. Internet predators can be reported by calling the Attorney General's Child Predator Hotline, at 1-800-385-1044, or online at the Attorney General's website -- http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/.

Additionally, Corbett recommended that parents talk to their children about the potential hazards of social networking sites, such as MySpace and Facebook. Corbett noted that many children post detailed personal information on these sites, which can be viewed by strangers and predators in addition to the children's friends and classmates.

"Agents and attorneys from the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit are currently reviewing information concerning 133 registered sex offenders from Pennsylvania identified as having profiles on MySpace.com, and who used the MySpace messaging system to contact other members of that popular social networking site," Corbett said. "Agents have also arrested several individuals who have used MySpace to sexually proposition real children, or used the site to share photos and communicate with undercover agents, as part of ongoing investigations by the Child Predator Unit."

Corbett, along with attorneys general from across the country, are actively working to improve the safety of online social networking sites -- pressuring website operators to implement a series of changes intended to better protect children, including age verification, greater privacy for profiles belonging to children, screening for sexually explicit content and other enhancements.

Corbett said that the Child Predator Unit is also actively involved in education and prevention efforts as part of "Operation Safe Surf," a statewide Internet safety program which was launched in October 2006. Over the past year, agents and attorneys from the Attorney General's Office and Pennsylvania Bar Association have presented the "Safe Surf" materials to more than 30,000 students in over 500 schools across Pennsylvania.

Corbett encouraged schools and community groups to contact the Attorney General's Education & Outreach Section for more information about Operation Safe Surf, or to schedule a presentation for their school or organization. School officials or event coordinators can contact the Education & Outreach Section by email at education@attorneygeneral.gov or by calling at 717-772-0907.

Online safety tips and resource materials for parents, teachers and children is available in the "Operation Safe Surf" and "Just 4 Kids" sections of the Attorney General's website.

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

Editors' Note: Photos of the defendants and copies of the criminal complaints are available by contacting the Attorney General's Press Office at 717-787-5211.

CONTACT: Nils Frederiksen Deputy Press Secretary 717-787-5211 nhf@attorneygeneral.gov

Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General

CONTACT: Nils Frederiksen, Deputy Press Secretary for the PennsylvaniaAttorney General Corbett, +1-717-787-5211, or Cell: +1-717-319-2252,nhf@attorneygeneral.gov

Web Site: http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/

Source: PRNewswire-USNewswire

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