North Strabane police arrest New York man on charges including sexual exploitation
Dubois
A New York man was arrested Thursday by North Strabane Township police when they said he came to the area believing he was going to have sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old boy he thought he met online.
Andrew M. Dubois, 31, of Jamestown, is charged with attempted involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, solicitation of sexual abuse of children, attempted interference with custody, attempted sexual exploitation of children, corruption of minors, two counts of unlawful contact with a minor and seven counts of criminal use of a communication facility.
Officer Gary Scherer, who is authorized in conducting undercover chat operations through the U.S. Department of Justice, was monitoring a chatroom website using the decoy of a 14-year-old boy from the Canonsburg area Saturday night when he was contacted by a man later identified by police as Dubois.
The two started to text back and forth. Dubois reportedly sent a text of himself shirtless and quickly asked about making arrangements to meet, Scherer indicated in court documents.
Dubois allegedly sent sexually graphic messages, including messages about meeting for sex. He also sent a photograph of his face, police said.
Police obtained a search warrant for subscriber information on Dubois’ cellphone. Police said they also confirmed his identity from his photograph on his New York driver’s license.
On Wednesday, Scherer, posing as the boy, made arrangements to meet Dubois the following day to engage in sex in the New York man’s vehicle, court documents stated. Dubois reportedly gave a description of the vehicle, and the two agreed to meet in a lot of a business just off Racetrack Road, police said. Dubois made contact with an undercover officer dressed as a minor in the lot and was taken into custody.
Dubois allegedly admitted to police his sole purpose for coming to North Strabane was to have sex with a 14-year-old boy. Police said he admitted there were condoms in his vehicle, along with Scooby Doo underwear and beer for the 14-year-old. Dubois also allegedly admitted he sent naked photographs to numerous minors across the country.
Dubois was arraigned before District Judge Gary Havelka and placed in Washington County jail on $50,000 bond. He is scheduled for a Dec. 19 preliminary hearing before District Judge Jay Weller.