Venango Co. Man Allegedly Says Child Porn is ‘Like a Drug’ — Faces Felony Charges

Joanne Bauer

Joanne Bauer

Published March 13, 2015 6:00 pm
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HARRISBURG, Pa. — Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane today announced the arrest of a Venango County man accused of possessing child pornography.

Benjamin Joseph Drusko, 38, of 2983 Wallaceville Road, Plum Township, Venango County, was arrested after an investigation by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Child Predator Section.

Special Agent Tabak Conducts On-Line Investigation to Identify Those Possessing Child Pornography

According to a criminal complaint, on Saturday, November 29, 2014, Duane E. Tabak — Special Agent, Bureau of Special Investigations, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, assigned to the Child Predator Section — was conducting an on-line Internet investigation to identify those possessing and sharing child pornography. He discovered an IP user with Armstrong Cable Services who was accessing child pornography.

On January 19, 2015, Armstrong Cable Services indicated that Benjamin Drusko is the alleged account holder and subscriber assigned the IP address in question, the complaint states.

Search Warrant Executed at Drusko’s Address

The complaint indicates that on Wednesday, March 11, 2015, Special Agent Tabak, along with other Agents from the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General and the Pennsylvania State Police, executed a search warrant at Drusko’s address at 2983 Wallaceville Road, Titusville, Plum Township, Pa.

Multiple computers and/or storage devices were recovered from the residence. Some of the devices and/or storage media were previewed and apparent child pornography media files were discovered, according to the complaint.

Seven files containing suspected child pornography were downloaded from an IP address allegedly assigned to a computer in Drusko’s possession, the complaint continues.

Drusko was not at home at this time, but he subsequently returned home after being notified that the police were at his residence, the complaint states.

Special Agent Tabak and Special Agent Lori Fasceni of the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General interviewed Drusko outside of his residence.

Drusko Allegedly Provides Statement to Officials

According to the complaint, Drusko allegedly waived his rights and provided the following statements:

  • He allegedly admitted to looking at child pornography since he was 30 or 31 years old. He indicated that he started off viewing child pornography on a Russian website he found. He further admitted using a file sharing program and downloading and viewing child pornography on March 10, 2015, the complaint states.
  • He allegedly reported that the youngest child he has seen on his computer engaged in a sex act was ten years old. However, he stated that he likes to look at children starting at the age of 13 years old and reported that he views child pornography “once or twice a week,” according to the complaint.
  • He was questioned about the terms he uses to search for child pornography, He allegedly reported to using the terms “PTHC (Pre-Teen Hard Core) and teen.” He stated that he knew the “PT” stood for “Pre-Teen,” the complaint indicates.
  • During the interview, Drusko allegedly acknowledged to Special Agent that the children in the files he downloads are being “sexually abused” and “are emotionally destroyed,” the complaint states.
  • He allegedly admitted to understanding how file sharing works. He acknowledged that the files he is downloading are coming from another person’s computer and understands that his files can be downloaded from his computer, according to the complaint.
  • He allegedly acknowledged to being sexually stimulated by the child pornography he views and downloads. He admitted to “performing sexual acts” while viewing the child pornography material as recent as March 10, 2015, the complaint continues.
  • He allegedly reported that he tries to delete all of the child pornography he downloaded immediately after viewing it, the complaint indicates.
  • He allegedly reported that he wants help for his problem and admitted that “what he does is sick and watching child pornography is like a drug for him,” the complaint states.
  • Drusko Faces 12 Felony Charges

    Drusko was charged with the following offenses:

    • seven counts of Disseminating Child Pornography, Felony 3
    • four counts of Possession of Child Pornography, Felony 3
    • one count of Criminal Use of a Communication Facility, Felony 3

    His bail was set at $50,000.00 at his preliminary arraignment.

    He awaits a preliminary hearing.

    No other information was provided.

    Reporting Child Predators

    Suspected child predators can be reported to the Office of Attorney General by calling the Child Predator Hotline at 1-800-385-1044. Individuals who suspect an online predator or child sexual abuse can also send an anonymous tip to the office by texting PAKIDS + YOUR TIP to 847411.

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