On June 14, 2018, Altoona police arrested Amy Marie Brosch, 30, following a criminal complaint.
Court records show that Amy Marie Brosch was charged with one count of conspiracy to photograph, film, or depict a child engaged in a sex act (a second degree felony); one count of photographing, filming, or depicting a child engaged in a sex act (a second degree felony); one count of child pornography (a third degree felony); one count of sexual exploitation of children (a second degree felony); one count of unlawful contact with a minor (a second degree felony); one count of corruption of minors(a first degree misdemeanor); and one count of manufacturing, delivering, or possessing a controlled substance (a felony).
NBC-affiliated WJAC first reported that a criminal complaint was filed after information was revealed during a separate investigation earlier this month. On June 5, 2018, Stephen Jason Apostolu, 30, of Altoona, Pennsylvania, was arrested in connection with an alleged robbery. According to WJAC, Apostolu informed investigators during an interview about his addiction to child pornography. From such revelation, investigators were able to link Apostolu to Brosch. Brosch had reportedly introduced Apostolu to a 17 year-old victim, who the two allegedly forced to smoke meth and then perform a sex act while Apostolu filmed. Brosch and Apostolu allegedly had plans to use Brosch’s home as the center for a child pornography and prostitution ring.
The CSE Institute applauds the work of Altoona investigators in making this arrest. However, we encourage prosecutors to utilize the human trafficking laws in Pennsylvania to bring additional charges against Brosch, if appropriate. According to 18 Pa.C.S. § 3011, an individual commits the crime of trafficking of minors if they recruit, entice, solicit, harbor, transport, provide, obtain or maintain a minor if the person knows or recklessly disregards that the minor will be subjected to sexual servitude. Or, an individual commits the crime of trafficking minors if they knowingly benefit financially or receive anything of value from any act that facilitates any activity previously described.
The commercial sexual exploitation of children is an exceptionally heinous crime. Children should be gossiping about the latest episode of American Idol, playing truth or dare at slumber parties, or wondering if the boy in homeroom likes them. Children should not be forced to pose nude for photos, have sex with strangers, or worry their trafficker will go after their sister next. Those that subject children to commercial sexual exploitation should be prosecuted accordingly and held accountable if found guilty.
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 of Villanova University.