Bradford and Potter Counties – From Thursday, October 29, through Wednesday, November 4, the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) – Bureau of Criminal Investigations – Northeast Computer Crime Task Force (PSP-BCI-NECCTF) conducted Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) operations in Bradford and Potter Counties, an operation aimed at identifying offenders involved in the possession, distribution, and production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
For this operation, NECCTF collaborated with agents from FBI offices in Philadelphia and Williamsport, Camden County (New Jersey) Detectives; intelligence agents in Delaware County, police officers from Coudersport Borough Police and Athens Borough Police, along with Troopers from PSP Coudersport and PSP Towanda.
During this operation, the Task Force executed three residential search warrants. Eight National Center Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) cyber-tips were investigated and closed out. The three search warrants lead to the following arrests:
- Brian Scott Nicholls, W/N/M, Leroy, PA
- Aaron Gary Hovan, W/N/M, Athens, PA
- Logan Matthew Benson, W/N/M, Coudersport, PA
The results of this operation were made possible through the collaboration with the Bradford and Potter County District Attorney’s Offices.
Members of the PSP-BCI-NECCTF are members of the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, a national network of 61 coordinated task forces representing more than 4,500 federal, state, and local enforcement agencies and prosecutorial agencies. These agencies are continually engaged in proactive and reactive investigations and prosecutions of people involved in child abuse and exploitation via the internet. NECCTF agencies include the following police departments: Dallas Township, Town of Bloomsburg, Hazleton City, West Hazleton Borough, Wyoming Regional, and Kingston Township; and detectives from the following counties: Lycoming, Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wayne.
Brain Scott Nicholls –
13 Counts of Felony 3 Sexual Abuse of Children (Possession), Title 18 6312 D
1 Count of Felony 3 Criminal Use of Communication Facility, Title 18 7512 A
Aaron Gary Hovan –
30 Counts of Felony 2 Sexual Abuse of Children (Possession), Title 18 6312 D
30 Counts of Felony 3 Sexual Abuse of Children (Possession), Title 18 6312
Logan Matthew Benson –
10 Counts of Felony 2 Sexual Abuse of Children (Possession), Title 18 6312 D
2 Counts of Felony 3 Sexual Abuse of Children (Possession), Title 18 6312 D
1 Count of Felony 3 Criminal Use of Communication Facility, Title 18 7512 A
Nicholls and Hovan were arraigned before the Honorable Magisterial District Judge (MDJ) Larry J. Hurley. MDJ Hurley set bail at $250,000 and both were remanded to Bradford County Prison. Benson was arraigned before the Honorable MDJ Bryan D Phelps and MDJ Phelps also set bail at $250,000. Benson was remanded to Potter County Prison.
Parents and guardians can find resources and information at missingkids.org.
For more information on the Pennsylvania State Police, visit the PSP website.
