Three Suspected Child Predators Arrested - One Used Facebook To Solicit Minors

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane's office today announced the arrest of three Pennsylvania men charged with possessing child pornography. One of the men allegedly used the social networks Facebook and Kik to contact underage girls.

The latest arrests were made in recent days by the Office of Attorney General's Child Predator Section. The arrests followed separate investigations in Philadelphia, Clearfield and Lehigh counties. The defendants are:

• Michael Lees, 39, 895 Walnut St., Apt. B1, Catasauqua, Lehigh County.

• Ruben Ramos, 28, 5022 Pennway St., Philadelphia, Philadelphia County.

• Aaron Michael Keith, 29, 21 Swank St., Irvona, Clearfield County.

Lees charges

Lees was arrested following an investigation into the online solicitation of minors by the Office of Attorney General’s Child Predator Section and the Sayre Borough Police Department. The investigation was initiated subsequent to reports that Lees had contacted minors via Facebook and requested nude photographs.

Agents with the Office of Attorney General’s Child Predator Section filed a search warrant for Lees’ Facebook records. A review of the records indicated Lees was also utilizing a Kik account to contact underage females.

On Friday, agents obtained a search warrant for Lees’ cellular telephones. A forensic examination of the devices revealed several images of apparent child pornography.

Lees is charged with two counts of unlawful contact with a minor, 25 counts of possession of child pornography and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.

He is confined to the Lehigh County Jail after failing to post $200,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for Dec. 18.

Attorney General Kane thanked the Sayre Borough Police Department for its assistance with the investigation.

Lees will be prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Rebecca Elo of the Office of Attorney General’s Child Predator Section.

Ramos charges

Agents with the Office of Attorney General’s Child Predator Section conducted an online investigation to identify those suspected of using a file sharing network to disseminate child pornography. A computer was identified sharing images of child pornography, which led agents from the Office of Attorney General and the Philadelphia Police Department to execute a search warrant at Ramos’ residence.

A preliminary review of Ramos’ computer by forensic examiners revealed multiple files of apparent child pornography.

Ramos is charged with six counts of distribution of child pornography, 12 counts of possession of child pornography and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.

He is confined to the Philadelphia Detention Center after failing to post $25,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for Dec. 24.

Attorney General Kane thanked the Philadelphia Police Department for its assistance with Ramos’ arrest.

Ramos will be prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Rebecca Elo of the Office of Attorney General's Child Predator Section.

Keith charges

Keith was arrested Wednesday following an online investigation into the distribution of child pornography. Agents found a media file depicting child pornography with an IP address associated with Keith.

Agents from the Office of Attorney General’s Child Predator Section and the Pennsylvania State Police executed a search warrant at Keith’s residence and located a computer and three hard drives. A preliminary review of the devices by forensic investigators uncovered numerous files indicative of child pornography.

Keith is charged with 10 counts of possession of child pornography and one count each of distribution of child pornography and criminal use of a communication facility.

He is confined to the Clearfield County Prison after failing to post $50,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is tentatively set for Dec. 16.

Attorney General Kane thanked the Pennsylvania State Police for its assistance with Keith's arrest.

Keith will be prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Jessel A. Costa III of the Office of Attorney General's Child Predator Section.

Reporting Child Predators

Suspected child predators can be reported to the Office of Attorney General by calling the Child Predator Hotline at 1-800-385-1044. Individuals who suspect an online predator or child sexual abuse can also send an anonymous tip to the office by texting PAKIDS + YOUR TIP to 847411