HARRISBURG – Agents from the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit have arrested a Montgomery County photographer accused of arranging to meet and have sex with what he believed was a 13-year old girl – allegedly telling her that he would teach her photography and that she could be his model.
Attorney General Tom Corbett identified the defendant as Richard Bitan, 53, of 213 Maple Ave., Horsham.
Corbett said that Bitan allegedly used an Internet chat room to initially contact an undercover agent from the Child Predator Unit in February 2010, identifying himself as a photographer, complimenting the “girl’s” appearance and telling her that he would like to take pictures of her. Also during their first chat, Bitan allegedly requested nude photos of the girl, asking, “do you have breasts,” then adding, “I wish to see them,” and “take a pic?”
Corbett noted that Bitan is the third “traveling” Internet predator to be arrested by the Attorney General’s Office over the past two weeks, emphasizing increased dangers during the summer – when young teens may be unsupervised and potentially available for meetings for longer periods during the day.
“Online predators do not care how far they must travel if they find a vulnerable victim,” Corbett said. “Internet safety should be a regular topic of discussion in every home, especially during the summer.”
Corbett said that Bitan allegedly attempted to gain the girl’s trust by discussing his work as a photographer, telling her that he would, “make you my model,” and adding, “I want to teach you photography one day.” He is also accused of sending a series of sexually explicit webcam videos to the girl, all allegedly showing Bitan nude or masturbating in front of his computer.
According to the criminal complaint, Bitan repeatedly proposed meeting the girl for sex and described in graphic detail the acts he wished to perform with her. Bitan also allegedly urged the girl to keep their meeting plans secret, telling her, “don’t tell any one,” and, “if your mom will know she will kill u and I will be in big troubles.”
Bitan was arrested on June 27 by agents from the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit, assisted by officers from the Lower Providence Township Police Department, when he arrived at a predetermined meeting location in Montgomery County. At the time of his arrest, Bitan was driving a vehicle that matched a description he allegedly provided during online discussions about the meeting.
Bitan 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.
Additionally, Bitan is charged with eight counts of unlawful contact with a minor (related to obscene or sexual materials and performances) 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.
Bitan was preliminarily arraigned before Collegeville Magisterial District Judge Cathleen Kelly Rebar and lodged in the Montgomery County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail. Bitan was also ordered to have no unsupervised contact with minors, prohibited from using the Internet and required to surrender his passport. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 10, at 11 a.m., before Magisterial District Judge Rebar.
Bitan will be prosecuted in Montgomery County by Deputy Attorney General Christopher Jones of the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit.
Corbett thanked the Lower Providence Township Police Department for their cooperation and assistance with this investigation.
Summer Internet Safety
Corbett explained that the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit has arrested 269 online predators since it was created in January 2005, including suspects from every age, economic group and profession. He noted that Internet predators have come from communities all across Pennsylvania, along with individuals who have traveled from as far away as Texas, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Maryland, New Jersey and Ohio, all hoping to sexually victimize children. To date, the Child Predator Unit has a 100% conviction rate.
Corbett urged parents and children to take added steps to guard against online predators, especially during the summer months when more young teens are home alone or unsupervised for greater lengths of time – urging children to always tell a trusted adult if an online stranger says or does something inappropriate or sexual in nature.
Corbett noted that many Internet predators will initiate sexual conversations or send nude photos or videos during their first online chats with children, and a large number will quickly suggest face-to-face meetings for sex.
Corbett recommended that parents and other caregivers should monitor how kids are using the Internet, including:
- Checking the websites they use frequently.
- Searching the social networking sites they visit.
- Reviewing their online profiles on FaceBook, MySpace and other websites.
- Discussing the items they post online.
Corbett added that parents should emphasize that kids should not share personal information online, like full names, ages, addresses, phone numbers and school information, and should be especially cautious about strangers who approach them online.
Additionally, Corbett said parents and teens also need to understand that safety concerns now extend beyond home computers.
“The same safety rules must be applied to cell phones and game systems, many of which can be used to send and receive messages, transmit photos and videos or used to access Internet websites,” Corbett said.
Suspected internet predators can be reported to the Attorney General’s Office by clicking on the “Report a Predator” link, located on the front page of the Attorney General’s Web site, or by calling the toll-free Child Predator Hotline at
1-800-385-1044.