A pastor was one of six men recently arrested in a child predator sting in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, aimed at identifying suspects in the possession, distribution, and production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Brad Swink had been an assistant pastor at North Rome Wesleyan Church (NRWC).
Editor’s note: This article refers to reports of child sex abuse that some readers might find triggering and/or disturbing.
According to a press release, the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the sting from April 7-11. The Northeast Computer Crime Task Force (NECCTF) of the Pennsylvania State Police coordinated with the FBI to conduct the operation.
Detectives responded to 15 homes to investigate “internet-related” crimes against children, resulting in the arrest of six men.
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An additional arrest is pending the results of a digital forensics investigation.
Swink has been charged with three counts of sexual abuse of children (possession), two counts of sexual abuse of children (production), and one count of criminal use of communication facility.
According to NorthcentralPA, Swink was confronted by police while at NRWC on Thursday (April 10), at which point he allegedly admitted to viewing and masturbating to CSAM since 2022.
Investigators allegedly found on Swink’s phone videos of Swink masturbating to a naked child who was also performing sex acts. Swink is alleged to have shared CSAM on Snapchat using an account that was linked to an email beginning with “littlebillyboy8419.”
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The others arrested during the operation were Robert Michel, Calvin Shaffer, Evan Hitchcock, Brandon Lantz, and Robert Pillot. All have been charged with multiple crimes related to possession and/or production of CSAM.
. Brad Swink had been an assistant pastor at North Rome Wesleyan Church (NRWC). ){kind=link}