A Lancaster man called it "educational."

The state Attorney General calls it a felony.

Jere A. Brandt Jr., 47, of 1389 Union St., was arrested recently in the latest sting of suspected Internet predators nabbed by the state Attorney General's Child Predator Unit.

Investigators said Brandt regularly sent live video of himself performing sex acts in front of his web-camera, along with pictures of male pornography, to a person he thought was a 13-year-old girl from Pittsburgh.

Even though he said he was "old enough to be dad," Brandt sent the sexually explicit videos and pornography pictures to the girl, describing them as "educational material."

But, as has been the case with hundreds of men arrested by the Child Predator Unit, the teenage girl was in reality a special agent for Attorney General Tom Corbett's office.

And when Brandt arrived last Friday at the prearranged location in Dauphin County, he was met by police officers instead of a teenage girl.

Brandt was charged with two counts of unlawful contact with a minor (one related to involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and another related to indecent assault), plus 12 counts of unlawful contact (related to obscene or sexual performances), all of which are felony offenses.

Since its creation in January 2005, agents from the Child Predator Unit have arrested 212 men from across Pennsylvania and from as far away as Texas, Florida and Kentucky.

"So far this year, our agents have made 35 arrests — a nearly 50 percent increase compared to the same period last year," Corbett said.

"As the weather continues to turn warmer and summer vacation season quickly approaches online predators are becoming increasingly active," Corbett said, "and it is essential that parents and children understand this threat."

Children's use of the Internet increases when they are at home or on holidays from school.

According to the criminal complaint, Brandt began corresponding with the imaginary girl on an Internet chat room last August. They exchanged pictures — hers of a fully-clothed teenage girl, his webcam pictures showed him naked from the torso down.

Brandt masturbated in front of the computer camera several times, discussing various sexual acts and suggesting in graphic detail what sex acts they could do together, according to court documents.

Last month, according to the complaint, when the girl said she was coming to Harrisburg to visit a relative, Brandt said he wanted to meet her. but told her, "I am trying to figure a way out so we both don't get in trouble you know."

Corbett, in a prepared statement, encouraged parents to monitor how their children use the Internet, including: what websites they use, what social network sites they frequent, the importance of not sharing personal information with strangers, avoiding strangers who approach them online and reporting any contact with individuals who engage in sexual discussions or attempt to send graphic photos or videos.

"Online safety is something that should be regularly discussed by every family," Corbett said, "because predators are out there right now, looking for kids who are lonely or vulnerable."

Individuals with information about potential Internet predators can go online to the website at www.attorneygeneral.gov or call the Child Predator Hotline at 1-800-385-1044.

Internet safety tips and other information are available in the "Operation Safe Surf" and "Just for Kids" sections of the Attorney General's website.

Also, organizations interested in materials, speakers or presentations may contact the Attorney General's Education and Outreach Office at 1-800-525-7642 or via email at education@attorneygeneral.gov .


Staff writer Janet Kelley can be reached at jkelley@LNPnews.com or 481-6026.