HARRISBURG – Attorney General Tom Corbett today announced that agents from the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit have made arrests in Allegheny and Dauphin counties involving two men accused of using Internet chat rooms to sexually proposition what they believed were 13-year old girls, as well as traveling to meet the girls for sex. The “girls” were actually undercover agents from Child Predator Unit who were using the online profiles of children.
Corbett identified the defendants as Charles Kaminski, 43 of Pittsburgh and James A. Kopp Jr., 60, of Landisville, Lancaster County.
Corbett explained that Kaminski and Kopp were arrested as the result of two separate investigations by the Child Predator Unit, which was created to conduct proactive undercover investigations in order to identify and capture child predators before they can harm children. Since January 2005, the Child Predator Unit has arrested 83 Internet predators.
“Internet predators can come from any walk of life and any community across our state,” Corbett said. “The one common trait they all share is a desire to sexually exploit children for their own pleasure.”
Charles Kaminski
According to the criminal charges, on Sept. 27, 2006, Kaminski, using the screen name “smitty632006,” used an Internet chat room to contact an undercover agent who he believed was a 13-year old girl.
Corbett said that during their initial chat, Kaminski allegedly asked the girl a series of personal questions about her online activities and personal preferences, and pointed out the difference in their ages, adding, “I could be your dad.” He also allegedly asked the girl how she responded when men “hit on you,” or sexually propositioned her online.
During a series of chats that followed, Corbett said that Kaminski allegedly engaged the girl in increasingly detailed chats about sexual activity and repeatedly expressed his desire to meet her, telling her, “I would teach you the pleasure of your body,” and, “I think it would be cool to be your first.”
According to the criminal charges, Kaminski told the girl he had purchased a digital camera and asked if he could take naked pictures of her when they met. Additionally, Kaminski offered to purchase gifts for the girl, including items from Victoria’s Secret.
Corbett said that when the girl expressed concerns about the possibility of getting pregnant, Kaminski allegedly responded, “wouldn’t that be hot,” and added “I am not bringing condoms.”
The criminal charges state that Kaminski arranged to meet the girl in Homestead, Allegheny County, at a location where he believed the girl would be attending a friend’s birthday party.
Corbett said that Kaminski was arrested by agents from the Child Predator Unit and West Homestead Police at approximately 8 p.m. on Friday, July 13, when he arrived at a predetermined meeting place.
Corbett noted that agents seized a digital camera, which Kaminski was allegedly carrying when he arrived at the meeting location, along with a laptop computer which was found in his vehicle. With assistance from the Pleasant Hills Police Department, agents also executed a search of Kaminski’s home, seizing a computer and numerous data storage devices. The computers and camera will be analyzed by the Attorney General’s Computer Forensics Unit as part of this ongoing investigation.
Kaminski is charged with one count of criminal attempted unlawful contact with a child, a second-degree felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine. He is also charged with one count of disseminating obscene or sexual materials 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.
Kaminski was preliminarily arraigned on July 13 in Allegheny County Night Court, and lodged in the Allegheny County jail in lieu of $500,000 cash bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 23, at 8 a.m., in Pittsburgh Municipal Court.
Kaminski will be prosecuted in Allegheny County by Deputy Attorney General William A. Caye of the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit.
Corbett thanked the Pleasant Hills Police Department for their cooperation and assistance with this investigation.
James A. Kopp Jr.
According to the criminal complaint, Kopp initially approached an undercover agent from the Child Predator Unit on May 3, 2007, identifying himself at a 60-year old man from Lancaster. The agent was using the online profile of a 13-year old girl.
Corbett said that during a series of chats in May and June, Kopp allegedly asked detailed questions about the girl’s sexual activity. He also allegedly proposed that they meet and described the sex acts he wished to engage in, adding, “should I bring my camera?”
The criminal charges state that on the morning of Wednesday, July 17, Kopp arranged to meet the girl near a shopping center in Swatara Township, Dauphin County.
Corbett said that agents from the Child Predator Unit, assisted by Swatara Township Police, arrested Kopp at approximately 12 p.m. on July 17, when he arrived at the predetermined meeting location driving a vehicle which matched the description he had provided during online chats.
Agents from the Child Predator Unit executed a search of Kopp’s Landisville, Lancaster County, home, assisted by East Hempfield Township Police, seizing 2 computers, a webcam and various data storage disks. Those items will be analyzed by the Attorney General’s Computer Forensics Unit as part of this ongoing investigation.
Kopp is charged with one count of unlawful contact with a minor (relating to involuntary deviate sexual intercourse), a first-degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $25,000 fine. Kopp is also charged with one count of unlawful contact with a minor (relating to statutory sexual assault), a second-degree felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine, and one count of criminal use of a computer, a third-degree felony punishable by up to seven years in prison and a $15,000 fine.
Kopp was preliminarily arraigned on Tuesday, July 17, before Harrisburg Magisterial District Judge Michael J. Smith, and lodged in the Dauphin County Jail in lieu of $75,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 1, at 10:45 a.m., before Magisterial District Judge Smith.
Kopp will be prosecuted in Dauphin County by Deputy Attorney General Michael A. Sprow of the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit.
Corbett thanked the Swatara Township and East Hempfield Township Police Departments for their cooperation and assistance with this investigation.