Cottone

HARRISBURG - Agents from the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit have arrested a Monroe County man accused of using internet chat rooms to sexually proposition what he believed was a 13-year old girl, as well as sending numerous nude or pornographic photos. 

Salvatore J. Cottone, 26, of 21 Cobblewood Drive, Mount Pocono, allegedly used online chat rooms to approach an undercover agent from the Child Predator Unit who was using the online profile of a 13-year old girl.  During his first chat, Cottone is accused of sending the "girl" four pornographic images.

Cottone allegedly continued to contact the agent online, sending nude photos and discussing pornography - at one point explaining, "porn is good 4 ya."

According to the criminal complaint, Cottone expressed a desire to meet the girl for sex, telling her, "I so want you," and, "I wish I was there nude with you."

Cottone was arrested on February 19th, by agents from the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit, who were assisted by officers from the Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department.

Agents also executed a search warrant at Cottone's home, seizing five computers, along with digital cameras, cell phones and data storage devices.  These items will be analyzed by the Attorney General's Computer Forensics Unit as part of an ongoing investigation.

Cottone is charged with six 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.

Cottone was preliminarily arraigned before Tobyhanna Magisterial District Judge Anthony Fluegel and lodged in the Monroe County prison in lieu of $75,000 bail.  Cottone was also ordered to have no unsupervised contact with minors and is prohibited from using the Internet.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for February 26th, at 10 a.m., before Magisterial District Judge Fluegel.

"It is important for parents and children to understand that many predators send nude photos or sexually explicit videos - often within the first few minutes of an initial online chat," Attorney General Tom Corbett said.  "Computer and cell phone technology makes it fast and easy to send messages or images, and many of the individuals arrested by the Child Predator Unit began sexually graphic discussions during their first online conversations with what they believed were kids."

Corbett noted that some of the online chats, including electronic conversations earlier this month, occurred on school "snow days."  He urged parents to regularly discuss Internet safety with their children, especially in situations where they may be home alone during the day.