WEST KITTANNING (KDKA) — A man is facing charges after bringing a teenager to a hotel room after meeting her on the internet.

The criminal complaint reads like a chapter out of the hit book “Fifty Shades of Grey.”

Police say there’s no indication that the book inspired the crime, but they do acknowledge the similarities.

Timothy Rodenius, 31, is facing sexual abuse of children, child pornography and related charges.

He allegedly met the 17-year-old victim on Facebook and corresponded with her over Skype for more than a year.

He then flew from his southern California home to western Pennsylvania where he picked up the victim at her parent’s Washington Township home and drove her to the West Kittanning Quality Inn.

“Originally she thought the defendant was 23 and the family thought he was 23, ends up he was 31,” State Police Lt. Thomas Dubovi said.

At the hotel, Rodenius restrained the young victim and videotaped the two engaging in sexual acts.

Police believe Rodenius intended to post the videos online, but it’s not clear if that actually happened.

“There’s a lot of video equipment and there was a lot of sexual aides used in bondage and stuff like that, so … up over 150 items,” Dubovi said.

Specifically, police recovered handcuffs, leather restraints, a blindfold and a stun-type gun, which the victim says he used to shock her.

They also found a video camera, tripod and computer.

“A case like this is disturbing because you have a 31-year-old man with a 17-year-old girl, but to see the distance – the length this guy would go meet this girl is – that’s very troubling,” he said.

State police are now working with authorities in California to see if Rodenius could be involved in any other cases. For now, he’s in jail on $100,000 bond.

RELATED LINKS
More Local News
More Armstrong County News