HACKENSACK, N.J. (AP) — Numerous charges have been filed against a Virginia man who allegedly coerced a 13-year-old New Jersey resident into sending him sexually explicit images.
Bergen County prosecutors say 44-year-old Brian Pettenger of Riner is charged with manufacturing child pornography, child endangerment and cyber harassment. He was being held Wednesday in Virginia on $250,000 cash bail, pending extradition proceedings.
Prosecutors say Pettenger contacted and engaged in sexually explicit chat messages with the victim, and also sent and received images depicting child porn. During the chats, Pettenger allegedly threatened to post sexually explicit phots of the victim online unless the victim sent him certain sexually explicit photos.
Pettenger allegedly obtained the original photos of the victim after he claimed to be a teenager and befriended the victim on social media.
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