Chesco DA Deb Ryan To Child Predators: 'You Cannot Run Or Hide'

WEST CHESTER, PA —The Chester County District Attorney's Office announced Tuesday that it has added to the number of officers on the Chester County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, which now has a total of 10 investigators.

The task force investigates child sexual abuse and exploitation across the county, and the Chesco DAO said there has been an almost 400-percent increase in those types of crimes since 2015.

According to the DAO, the number of reported child sexual abuse cases that came through the Chesco ICAC has gone from the 39 in 2015 to 139 so far this year.

DA Deb Ryan was blunt in her message to child predators.

"Chester County law enforcement is putting child predators on notice that we are coming for you," Ryan said. "There has been an explosion in child sexual abuse cases over the past six years that must stop now. Too many children are out there suffering at the hands of men and women who think nothing of using a child for their depraved sexual gratification. So to those individuals, know this: You cannot run or hide. We will find you and put you behind bars for as long as possible."

The DAO pointed out that child predators come from all socioeconomic levels and from different occupations. Over the years, investigators have arrested teachers, daycare workers, coaches, fathers, mothers and babysitters, according to the DAO.

"The people we arrest are sexually violent predators who very often have unreported assaults on children," said David Sassa, chief county detective in Chester County. "Their continued viewing and trading images and videos of the sexual abuse of children not only perpetuates the cycle of abuse but makes it easier for offenders to normalize their behavior. With this outstanding addition and commitment of our law enforcement partners, we will be able to multiply our efforts to root them out."

Run by the Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), the national ICAC Task Force Program helps state and local law enforcement agencies develop an effective response to technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and internet crimes against children.

The program has 61 coordinated task forces representing more than 5,400 federal, state and local law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies, according to the OJJDP.

The Pennsylvania ICAC Task Force was formed in 2000, and the Chester County ICAC Task Force began the following year, according to the Chesco DAO.

Detective Sergeant Joseph Walton was the sole member of the Chesco ICAC Task Force when it began, and he is still one of its 10 members.

"We are dealing with hundreds of predators who jeopardize the safety of our children," Walton said. "Over the past 20 years, we have seen predators collecting millions of images of child pornography, sexually assaulting children and sharing the images with others. We won't stop working until our children are safe."

With Tuesday's announcement, the Chesco ICAC Task Force now includes:

• Detective Nick Natale, Phoenixville PD
• Detective Chris Coverly, Oxford PD
• Detective Corporal Dan Orris, East Brandywine PD
• Detective Michael Buchman, West Whiteland PD
• Detective Tim Prouty, North Coventry PD
• Detective Sergeant Steve Jones, Willistown PD
• Detective Chris Gravina, Kennett Square Borough PD
• Detectives Ben Martin and Jerry Davis, Chester County Detectives
• Detective Sergeant Joseph Walton, Chester County Detectives

Chester County residents are reminded to call Childline if they suspect abuse. The number is 1-800-932-0313

The DAO also offers free virtual Stewards of Children workshops that teach adults how to recognize, react and respond to child sexual abuse. For more information or to sign up for a class, contact County Coordinator Katie Walters at kwalters@chesco.org or 610-344-6115.