BROOKVILLE BOROUGH, Pa. (EYT) – A Punxsutawney man is facing felony charges after he was busted by a local undercover internet predator sting.
Court documents indicate that the Brookville Borough Police Department filed the following charges against 34-year-old James E. Petrick of Punxsutawney:
- Unlawful Contact With Minor – Sexual Offenses, Felony 1
- Criminal Solicitation – Unlawful Contact With Minor -Sexual Offenses, Felony 1
- Criminal Attempt – Unlawful Contact With Minor – Sexual Offenses, Felony 1
- Corruption Of Minors – Defendant Age 18 or Above, Felony 3 (three counts)
- Criminal Use Of Communication Facility, Felony 3
According to a criminal complaint, around 9:29 p.m. on Monday, December 3, Officer Turnbull of the Brookville Borough Police Department received – on a fictitious open source social media account – a friend request from James E. Petrick.
The complaint notes that the fictitious account’s persona is a 15-year-old female.
Petrick allegedly made contact with the fictitious account twice that day and again on Thursday, December 6, and Officer Turnbull, in the fictitious persona, made small talk with him. Petrick also sent a photo of himself, which was verified with a Jefferson County Narcotics Enforcement Team (JNET) photo.
According to the complaint, Petrick immediately started asking to have sex with the persona and asked to show his genitals. The persona replied, informing Petrick that the persona was only 15 years old and then continued to make small talk with Petrick.
The complaint notes that on Sunday, December 9, Petrick requested that the persona delete the previous conversation.
According to the complaint, around 1:00 p.m. on December 9, Petrick began to talk to the persona about his genitals and showing it to the persona, and also acknowledged, several times, that he was aware of the persona’s age.
Throughout the conversation, Petrick allegedly asked about the persona having sex and having oral sex, asked to see the persona’s genitals more than 20 times, and sent the persona a photo of his penis, despite being told not to do so multiple times. Petrick also allegedly requested the giving and receiving of oral sex from the persona.
According to the complaint, conversations of the same nature continued throughout the week until Friday, December 14.
Petrick allegedly said he “could not let” the persona perform oral sex, and when the persona asked why not, Petrick asked if the persona wanted to and continued to talk about the act, with Petrick again requesting the sending and receiving of photos of his and the persona’s genitals.
Around 3:51 p.m. on Saturday, December 15, Petrick informed the persona he was leaving his home. Officer Turnbull then contacted Chief Markle and informed him of the location Petrick had agreed to meet the persona.
Petrick was then taken into custody without incident.
In an interview with police Petrick admitted to going to the meeting location with the intention of having sexual relations with what he believed was a 15-year-old girl, according to the complaint.
Petrick was arraigned at 12:16 a.m. on Sunday, December 16, in Magisterial District Judge Jacqueline J. Mizerock’s office.
Unable to post 10% of $50,000.00 monetary bail, Petrick was lodged in the Jefferson County Jail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 8, with Magisterial District Judge Gregory M. Bazylak presiding.
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