PA Predator Herschell Admits to Online Sex Act with 12-Year-Old

WASHINGTON, PA – Jeffrey W. Herschell, 54, of Washington, Pennsylvania, has confessed to a horrifying crime: coercing a 12-year-old girl into performing a sexual act online. Herschell pleaded guilty today in federal court to both coercion and enticement of a minor, and possession of child pornography, bringing a dark chapter to a close, but promising a lengthy prison sentence for the predator.

According to court documents, Herschell wired money to the Philippines in February 2010, directly funding a live, online sex show featuring the young victim. The statement of facts, agreed to by Herschell himself, paints a grim picture of calculated exploitation. This wasn’t a fleeting impulse; it was a deliberate act of depravity fueled by cold, hard cash.

But the online horror didn’t stop there. Investigators also discovered a cache of child pornography videos stored at Herschell’s Pennsylvania residence. The extent of the depravity found on his hard drives remains undisclosed, but it’s clear this wasn’t an isolated incident. Herschell’s home served as a digital vault for unimaginable suffering.

Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania David J. Hickton, and Special Agent in Charge John Kelleghan of ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) jointly announced the guilty plea. The investigation, a collaborative effort between U.S. and Philippine authorities – including the National Bureau of Investigation (Philippines) and the Philippine National Police – demonstrates the increasing international cooperation in combating these heinous crimes.

Herschell now faces a minimum of 10 years and a potential life sentence on the coercion and enticement charge. An additional 10 years loom for the child pornography possession charge. Following any prison term, he will be subject to a minimum of five years – potentially for life – of supervised release and will be required to register as a sex offender wherever he lives, works, or studies. Sentencing is scheduled for May 28, 2013.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 to dismantle the networks of child sexual exploitation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Lieber Smolar and Trial Attorney Bonnie L. Kane are prosecuting the case, sending a clear message that those who prey on children will be relentlessly pursued and brought to justice. Those seeking more information about Project Safe Childhood can visit www.justice.gov/psc.