December 09, 2023 / By mobanmarket
WEST CHESTER, PA —A 28-year-old Kennett Square man was convicted Tuesday in Chester County Court of sex offenses involving a 15-year-old girl he met on Snapchat.
Cristian Casca was returned to Chester County Prison to await sentencing after being found guilty by a jury on charges of involuntary deviant sexual intercourse, unlawful contact with minors, statutory sexual assault, and related offenses.
The victim disclosed that she met Gasca in April through Snapchat, but did not know him before receiving a friend request, according to testimony.
She stated that most of their communications occurred through Snapchat, and she informed him that she was 15 years old.
Police said Casca convinced her to run away from home so they could be together in Pennsylvania. The victims told police they engaged in sexual intercourse between April 20 and 23, 2022.
She was then transported to Nemours Children’s Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware for care.
District Attorney Deb Ryan said this case is an example of the dangers of online predators.
“The defendant preyed upon a young victim online by grooming her and convincing her to run away from the safety of her home,” Ryan said.
On Saturday, April 23, 2022, Kennett Square Township police received a request from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office in Maryland to check a residence located at the 200 Block of Boulder Way, in an attempt to locate a missing 15-year-old girl.
Upon arrival, police made contact with the defendant, who initially denied knowing anything about a missing juvenile.
During the conversation, a family member of Gasca walked down the stairs of the residence with the missing juvenile victim. She was subsequently transported to the Kennett Square Police Department to reconnect with family members.
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