A Franklin man was arrested this week on a number of sex-related charges in connection with two cases.
Christopher Wayne Douglass, 34, is facing charges filed by the state Office of Attorney General that include 21 felony counts of disseminate photo/film of child sex acts, a single count of child pornography and a charge of criminal use of a communication facility.
A criminal complaint filed with district judge Matthew Kirtland by Philip J. Larcinese III of the attorney general’s office says Douglass distributed at least 21 computer files that clearly depict children under the age of 18 engaged in sexual acts or poses.
Larcinese, who is with the attorney general’s Bureau of Special Investigations Child Predator Section, also said in the complaint he personally viewed at least one file Douglass had in his possession that showed children under 18 engaged in sex acts.
Larcinese and special agent Duane Tabak of the attorney general’s office met Tuesday with Douglass at his home at 174 Maple Grove Circle in Franklin, and Douglass told the agents he views child pornography one to two times a week, the complaint said.
Douglass also said he generally searches for children 14 and older, but has also searched for children as young as seven, according to the complaint.
Douglass was arraigned before Kirtland and lodged in the Venango County jail Tuesday evening on $150,000 bail in connection with the charges.
In the second case, Franklin police have filed charges against Douglass in connection with incidents several months ago at a church.
Police said Douglass had been asked to mentor a juvenile girl with disabilities at the church and agreed to do so. Douglass had inappropriate contact with the girl while he was mentoring her and tried to persuade her into becoming his girlfriend, police said.
Douglass was charged with unlawful contact with a minor-sexual offenses, indecent assault of a person with a mental disability and corruption of minors-defendant age 18 or above.
Franklin police said Douglass was still in the county jail on Friday.
Preliminary hearings have been scheduled Wednesday in both cases.
