A Maryland man faces federal charges after he allegedly attempted to sexually exploit minors in the North Apollo and Kiski Township areas.
George Luton, 49, of Annapolis was indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh.
Authorities said Luton persuaded a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing illicit material on multiple occasions in March.
He was arrested April 6 in the parking lot of a North Apollo business as part of an investigation with the Kiski Township and Southern Armstrong Regional police departments and the FBI.
Kiski Township Police Chief Lee Bartolicius said his officers received a tip in late February of a Maryland man, later identified as Luton, attempting to exploit children in the North Apollo area, which is patrolled by the Kiski Township Police Department.
“Officers initiated an investigation, and as a result of that investigation reached out to the FBI Pittsburgh office and requested assistance from their child predator unit,” Bartolicius said. “Following that joint investigation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office assisted us and the FBI in approving a complaint for Luton.”
The chief said he could not get into further details about the case, other than to say the arrest was a team effort.
“It’s a huge win for the community to get someone like him, a child predator, off the streets,” Bartolicius said. “The collaboration between local and federal law enforcement was imperative in this case. That’s what ultimately led to the success of it.”
