Philadelphia Man Charged In Child Predator Sting: Authorities

PHILADELPHIA — A Philadelphia man is one of 10 other men accused of using the internet to solicit sex with underage people, according to authorities.

The Delaware County District Attorney's Office said Marvin Gus Jennings, 53, of Philadelphia, was arrested and charged with attempt to commit statutory sexual assault and related offenses.

Jennings' arrest comes at the heels of a major sting operation conducted by the Delaware County District Attorney’s Criminal Investigation Division (CID) Internet Crime Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, Pennsylvania State Police, Tinicum Township Police Department, Ridley Township Police Department, Glenolden Borough Police Department, Darby Borough Police Department, Darby Township Police Department, and the FBI.

Nine others, from as close as Trainer Borough in Delaware County to as far as Las Vegas, were also arrested and charged in the sting. See full details from the sing here.

Jennings was arrested following an investigation by Detective Sergeant Kenneth Bellis of CID ICAC unit and Officer Timothy Kearney of the Ridley Township Police Department and member of the Delaware County ICAC Task Force.

Kearney posed as a 14-year-old juvenile female and engaged in on-line conversations with a man later identified as Jennings, who asked whether the juvenile was willing to have sexual intercourse with an older male and initiated further sexual conversations, the DA's office said.

On April 29, Jennings arranged to meet the 14-year old juvenile, asked sexual questions and told the juvenile what clothing to wear, according to the DA's office.

The next day, Jennings arrived at the agreed upon location and was taken into custody by the Ridley Township Police Department, the DA's office said.

Jennings was charged with attempt to commit statutory sexual assault and related offenses.

Magisterial District Judge Vincent D. Gallagher set bail at $500,000 cash.

His preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 6.