On November 21, 2023, a federal grand jury indicted three central Pennsylvania men following an undercover operation led by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies pursuant to Project Safe Childhood. Christopher L. Crispen, 33, of Howard, was charged with attempted statutory sexual assault, unlawful contact with a minor, and criminal use of a communication facility. Robert D. Mansberger, 58, of Cassville, was charged with attempt to patronize a victim of human trafficking, attempted statutory sexual assault, attempt to promote prostitution of a minor, attempted unlawful contact with a minor, and criminal use of communication facility. Walter T. Sitosky, 66, of Houtzdale, PA was charged with attempt to patronize a victim of human trafficking, attempted statutory sexual assault, attempt to promote the prostitution of a minor, attempted unlawful contact with a minor, and criminal use of communication facility. Bail for both Crispen and Sitosky’s is set at $100,000, and Mansberger’s is set at $250,000. According to their dockets, bail has not been posted for any of the men and their arraignments are scheduled for December 13, 2023.
Sitosky and Mansberger allegedly responded separately to an online advertisement for a female “willing to engage in sexual activities” listed by undercover officers. Both men then allegedly arranged to meet who they believed to be a 13-year-old girl over text, traveled to the agreed-upon location to meet the teenage girl, and paid a deposit to the undercover officer. After being arrested, it is reported that both men admitted they intended to pay for sex with a 13-year-old.
Crispen allegedly exchanged a series of messages with an undercover officer who he believed to be a 15-year-old boy discussing sex acts and arranging to meet the teenage boy at a certain location to have sex. Upon Crispen’s arrival at the location, he was taken into custody and it is also reported that he admitted he planned to “fool around” with the boy.
The case was investigated by the FBI, Pennsylvania State Police, Patton Township Police, the Centre County District Attorney’s Office, Williamsport Police, and the Lycoming County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alisan V. Martin is prosecuting the case.
The CSE Institute applauds law enforcement’s collaborative efforts to combat commercial sexual exploitation of minors by targeting sex buyers. Targeting sex buyers who knowingly seek to exploit vulnerable populations such as children is key to reducing the demand for commercial sex and reducing human trafficking overall. The Department of Justice brought this case under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative designed to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Project Safe Childhood launched in May 2006 and coordinates federal, state, and local resources to locate, arrest, and prosecute people who exploit children via the internet, as well as identify and support victims. The CSE Institute praises the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Attorneys for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for their work to combat sex trafficking.
While we commend law enforcement for these efforts, we encourage the use of the federal sex trafficking statute in addition to the charges in cases such as these. The sex trafficking of children offense encompasses many of the same elements as the crimes charged, but does not require the government to prove that the accused knew the minor was under 18 years of age, which often makes it easier to prosecute. Adding this charge in cases such as these could increase the chances of holding these men accountable for their attempts to purchase children for the purposes of their sexual pleasure, and, of force, fraud, or coercion can be proven, may even result in steeper sanctions.
The CSE Institute will continue to provide updates on this matter.
All views expressed herein are personal to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law or Villanova University.