Man charged in computer child-sex case sentenced
A New Brighton man has been sentenced in connection with several computer-related child-sex charges.
Joseph H. Kaluza, 66, pleaded guilty to unlawful contact with a minor, solicitation to possess child pornography, possession of child pornography and corruption of minors before Washington County Court Judge Michael J. Lucas. Kaluza was sentenced to 2 to 12 years in jail. He must undergo sex offender and perpetrator counseling and can have no contact with minors.
The charges arose from an investigation by North Strabane police Detective Gary Scherer into child pornography and criminal solicitation of children for sexual acts over the internet.
Beginning in July, Scherer acted as a decoy, assuming the online identity of a 14-year-old girl. The decoy was contacted by Kaluza in a public teen chatroom and for several weeks corresponded with sexually explicit online chats, text messages, videos and voicemails. At one point, Kaluza exposed his genitalia to the decoy several times. Kaluza attempted to get the decoy to meet him at a hotel to perform sex acts. A subsequent search of Kaluza’s computer yielded 52 images of children under the age of 18 engaged in sexual activities.
Washington County Assistant District Attorney Kristin Clingerman prosecuted the case.