Ursich

HARRISBURG - Agents from the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit have recently arrested three suspected Internet predators, including a chef from Wayne County accused of sending 14 nude webcam videos to an undercover agent using the online profile of a young teen.

Joseph Ursich, 41, of 159 Swamp Brook Road, Hawley, allegedly used an Internet chat room to contact an undercover agent from the Child Predator Unit who was using the online profile of a 13-year old girl. 

According to the criminal complaint, Ursich sent a webcam video of himself masturbating during his first online chat.   Over the next several weeks, Ursich allegedly sent a total of 14 sexually explicit webcam videos.

He also allegedly encouraged the girl to masturbate during their online chats and asked her to send him nude photos.

Ursich is charged with 14 counts of unlawful contact with a minor (related to sexual materials or 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.

Ursich was preliminarily arraigned and lodged in the Wayne County Prison in lieu of $75,000 bail.  A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, at 9 a.m., at the Wayne County Central Courthouse.

Attorney General Tom Corbett noted that two other suspects were also nabbed in online underage sex stings, including a computer technician from Lackawanna County who used online chat rooms to sexually proposition what he believed was a young girl, and a man from East Aurora, NY, who traveled to Lawrence County for what he thought would be sex with a 13-year-old girl.