New York man indicted in federal court in North Strabane case
A New York man arrested in December by North Strabane Township police after he allegedly arrived for what he thought was a meeting with a 14-year-old boy for sex was indicted Tuesday on federal charges.
Andrew M. Dubois, 32, of Jamestown, was indicted on charges of travel in interstate commerce for the purpose of engaging in illicit sex and knowingly possessing and accessing with intent to view images which involved the use of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
North Strabane Officer Gary Scherer, who is authorized to conduct undercover chat operations through the U.S. Department of Justice, was monitoring a chatroom using the persona of a 14-year-old boy from the Canonsburg area in early December when he was contacted by a man later identified by police as Dubois.
The two reportedly started to text back and forth. Dubois allegedly sent a text of himself shirtless and asked about arrangements to meet, according to documents filed by Scherer in Washington County Court. The New York man allegedly sent sexually graphic messages, including messages about meeting for sex. He also sent a photograph of his face, police said.
Police obtained a search warrant for subscriber information on Dubois’ cellphone and said they confirmed his identity through his New York driver’s license.
According to police, Scherer, posing as the 14-year-old, made arrangements to meet Dubois Dec. 7 so the two could have sex in the New York man’s vehicle. Arrangements reportedly included meeting in a parking lot off Racetrack Road. Police said Dubois made contact with an undercover officer posing as a minor in the lot and was taken into custody.
Dubois allegedly admitted to township police his only reason for coming to North Strabane was to have sex with a 14-year-old boy. Dubois also allegedly admitted to sending naked photographs of himself to numerous minors across the country.
Dubois will remain in Washington County jail until federal authorities take custody of him. Local charges against him will be withdrawn once he is in federal custody.