HARRISBURG – Attorney General Tom Corbett announced Thursday that agents from the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit have arrested two northwestern PA men, including a minister from Crawford County and an electrician from Mercer County, accused of using the Internet to sexually proposition and send sexually graphic webcam videos to what they believed were young girls. The “girls” were actually undercover agents from the Child Predator Unit using the online profiles of children.
Corbett identified the defendants as Rev. Steven Richard McGuigan, 39, Conneautville, and Dale L. McLaughlin, 44, Grove City.
“These latest arrests by the Child Predator Unit are examples of a steadily increasing number of cases involving ‘webcam predators’ – men who seek sexual gratification by sending nude photos or videos to what they believe are children,” Corbett said. “This is part of a growing trend we are seeing across the state, involving predators who hide in the comfort and security of their own homes, using high-tech tools like webcams, digital cameras and online chat rooms to try to steal the innocence of unsuspecting children.”
Corbett explained that the Child Predator Unit was created in January 2005 to conduct proactive undercover investigations to identify and capture Internet predators before they can harm children. Including today’s arrests, the unit has arrested 128 Internet predators, including 64 over the past 12-months. To date, the Child Predator Unit has a 100 percent conviction rate.
Corbett noted that the techniques used by Internet predators change rapidly, spurred by developments in communications technology and changes in where and how children communicate online.
“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.com.”
Corbett 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.”
Corbett explained that children do not need access to a webcam or digital camera in order to view photos or videos being sent by predators, adding that high-speed internet connections and inexpensive digital cameras and webcams make it quick and easy for online predators to send sexually explicit files from the comfort and relative safety of their homes.
Of the 64 Internet predators arrested by the Child Predator Unit over the past year, nearly 75% of those cases involved individuals who sent sexually explicit photos or video.
Corbett said that the suspects arrested recently in Crawford and Mercer counties follow the pattern of other recent “webcam predator” cases:
Corbett said that McGuigan, using the screen name “stevesru,” allegedly approached an undercover agent in an Internet chat room in December 2007, identifying himself as a 39-year old man from the Meadville area. At the time, the agent was using the online profile of a 13-year old girl.
According to the criminal complaint, McGuigan complimented the girl on her appearance, telling her, “u look older than 13.” He also allegedly asked the girl if she liked older men and also requested photos, including, “any sexy ones.”
Corbett said that during their first online chat, McGuigan allegedly asked the girl a series of detailed questions about her sexual experience, suggested that they exchange more photographs and also offered to send the girl webcam videos when she was alone at home.
According to the criminal complaint, McGuigan approached the girl again the following day, once again quizzing the girl about her sexual experience and discussing a series of sex acts in graphic detail.
Corbett said that during a third online chat, January 2, 2008, McGuigan allegedly sent the girl a webcam that showed him naked from the waist down, masturbating in front of his computer.
According to the criminal charges, McGuigan engaged in a series of chats with the undercover agent over the next several weeks, discussing various sex acts in graphic detail and requesting nude photos of the girl. McGuigan also allegedly sent additional nude webcam videos to the girl.
McGuigan was arrested in Conneautville on Wednesday, March 5, 2008, by agents from the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit, assisted by the Pennsylvania State Police. At the time of his arrest, McGuigan was serving as a United Methodist Church minister in Conneautville.
McGuigan is charged with two counts of unlawful contact with a minor and two counts of criminal use of a computer, all third-degree felonies which are each punishable by up to seven years in prison and a $15,000 fine.
McGuigan was preliminarily arraigned before Linesville Magisterial District Judge Rita J. Marwood and lodged in the Crawford County Jail in lieu of $35,000 cash bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 13, 2008, at 11 a.m., before Magisterial District Judge Marwood.
McGuigan will be prosecuted in Crawford County by Deputy Attorney General William F. Caye II, of the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit.
Corbett said that McLaughlin, using the screen name “wireman638,” allegedly approached an undercover agent in an Internet chat room in early February, identifying himself as a 44-year old electrician from the Slippery Rock area. At the time, the agent was using the online profile of a 13-year old girl.
According to the criminal complaint, McLaughlin contacted the girl a second time, the following day, requesting photos and commenting on her appearance, telling her, “you’re hot,” and “you should be a model.”
Corbett said on the third day of online chats, McLaughlin allegedly sent a webcam video showing his “Winnie the Pooh” cartoon boxer shorts and asking the girl if she enjoyed “making Pooh’s nose grow,” and cautioning the girl that their online conversations were “our secret.” Later in the chat, McLaughlin allegedly removed the boxer shorts and displayed his erect penis, asking the girl, “did you hope Mr. Winky was gonna burst out?”
According to the criminal charges, McLaughlin contacted the girl online numerous times during the month of February, sending her a series of nude webcam videos – often while dressed in cartoon boxer shorts, including Mr. Potato Head, Bugs Bunny and Winnie the Pooh. On numerous occasions McLaughlin also expressed a desire to meet the girl for sex and explaining in graphic detail the sex acts he wished to perform with her.
McLaughlin was arrested on Friday, February 29th, in Greenville, Mercer County, by agents from the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit, assisted by Pennsylvania State Police.
McLaughlin is charged with four counts of unlawful contact with a minor (obscene or sexual performances) and two counts of criminal use of a computer, all third-degree felonies which are each punishable by up to seven years in prison and a $15,000 fine.
He was arraigned before Sharon Magisterial District Judge James McMahon and lodged in the Mercer County Jail in lieu of $50,000 cash bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 12, 2008, at 3 p.m., before Jackson Center Magisterial District Judge Larry Silvis.
McLaughlin will be prosecuted in Mercer County by Deputy Attorney General William F. Caye II, of the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit.
Corbett thanked the Pennsylvania State Police from Mercer and Crawford counties for their cooperation and assistance with these investigations.
Child Predator Unit
Corbett urged parents to regularly talk to their children about the dangers of Internet predators, and to stress that children should always tell a trusted adult if someone says something or does something online that makes them feel uncomfortable.
Corbett also recommended that parents discuss the potential hazards of social networking sites, like MySpace and Facebook, where young people often post detailed personal information and photos – materials that may be intended for the children’s friends or classmates, but items that are often available to strangers and predators.
“Parents and kids need to understand that predators are actively using the Internet to seek out and contact potential victims,” Corbett said. “Unsuspecting kids who wander into chat rooms or social networking sites can quickly find themselves inundated with obscene images and sexual proposals.”
Suspected internet predators can be reported to the Attorney General’s Office by calling the toll-free Child Predator Hotline, at 1-800-385-1044, or filing an online complaint using the Attorney General’s Web site (Click on the “Report an Internet Predator” link, located on the front page of the Web site).
Internet safety tips and other information for parents, children and teachers is available in the “Operation Safe Surf” and “Just for Kids” sections of the Attorney General’s Web site (Click on the “Kids, Parents & Schools” link at the top of the front page).