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Keith Page, 67, of Byberry Road, Bensalem, was the target of a vigilante group called "Predator Poachers," that confronts alleged child predators on camera to promote their social media pages, according to the Bensalem Police Department.
The vigilantes reported their interaction with Page to police on Monday, Nov. 4, police said.
A member of the group posed as an 11-year-old girl on Facebook when Page engaged with this persona via chat, according to police. Page acknowledged the age and said, "Age is only a number."
Over the course of a few weeks, Page told the "girl" not to tell her mother about their discussions and began asking for and sending sexually explicit photos, police said.
Page acknowledged to the vigilante posing as the girl that he could get in trouble for having sex with her, but still provided her with his address and agreed to meet her to have sex on Monday, Nov. 4, according to police.
Instead of a girl showing up at his home, the vigilante group and a camera crew arrived and confronted Page on camera before calling officers, police said.
Page was interviewed by officers and admitted to asking for and sending sexually explicit photos and engaging in sexually explicit conversations with an underage girl, according to police.
He was arrested and charged with:
- Rape of Child.
- Photograph on Computer Sex Act - Knowingly or Permitting Child.
- Disseminating Sexual Material to a Minor (two counts).
- Corruption of Minors.
- Criminal Use of Communication Facility.
Page is being held in the Bucks County Correctional Facility on 10% of $2 million bail, court documents state. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 20.
The Bensalem Township Police Department noted that these internet confrontations have become violent and have even led to the confronted individual committing suicide in the past. These types of confrontations are not condoned by the department.
Instead, those with information about a possible child predator should call police before making contact to maintain the safety of everyone involved and the integrity of the investigation can be preserved, police said.
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