HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced Friday that a Butler County man has been charged with multiple felony offenses related to the alleged creation and online dissemination of digitally manipulated child sexual abuse material, as well as the alleged stalking and harassment of a former partner.
According to the Office of Attorney General, 20-year-old Benjamin T. Staiger, of Harmony, was taken into custody at his residence on Thursday following an investigation by the agency’s Child Predator Section. He was arraigned Friday, where bail was set at $100,000. Staiger posted bail and was released under electronic monitoring.
Prosecutors allege that Staiger used social media and other online platforms to distribute a combination of explicit and artificially generated images depicting victims, including minors. Investigators determined that some of the images had been digitally altered to create “deepfake” depictions of child sexual abuse. Other images allegedly featured adult victims engaged in intimate acts that were posted online without their consent.
The investigation, led by the Office of Attorney General, identified multiple victims whose photographs appeared in online posts attributed to Staiger, primarily on the platform X (formerly Twitter). Authorities said that none of the victims consented to the public dissemination of the images and that several were minors at the time the original photos were taken.
Attorney General Sunday described the conduct as a troubling example of the misuse of emerging technology to exploit victims. “This case demonstrates the depth of depravity and exploitation available to bad actors who choose to weaponize modern technology and social media,” Sunday said. “The defendant repeatedly abused and exploited multiple victims with a barrage of online postings. His days of hiding behind a social media handle while causing long-lasting harm and humiliation are over.”
Staiger is charged with 42 felony counts of sexual abuse of children, one felony count of criminal use of a communication facility, and misdemeanor counts of stalking, invasion of privacy, and unlawful dissemination of intimate images.
The case is being prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Angela Raver of the Child Predator Section.
Criminal charges are allegations only, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.