Police: Child Porn Offender Ran Youth Sports Video Business
CRESCENT TOWNSHIP (KDKA/AP) - Authorities say a Pennsylvania man violated his probation for possessing child pornography by running a business that produced videos of youth sporting events.
Police say Brandon Carter used the name Kalon Carter to run his business, Digix Films. He videotapes youth sporting events, anti-bullying campaigns and he's a still photographer.
The 32-year-old convicted sex offender was arrested last Wednesday, accused of violating Megan's Law requirements. He didn't report that he was operating the business and that he was no longer living at his registered address in Crescent Township.
"The purpose is to track and know where these sex offenders are and where they're frequenting," said Capt. Ken Longerman, the interim police chief at Crescent Township Police Department.
Police say Carter shot video of more than 45 different youth football games from several Western Pennsylvania districts.
Carter was also the videographer at an anti-bullying campaign inside Grandview Upper Elementary School in Tarentum last Tuesday, one day before he was arrested.
The Highlands School District superintendent told KDKA that Carter didn't have an ID to get into the school but used a fake name.
"That's scary. I'm surprised we didn't hear anything about it," said Lenora Smith, who has two grandchildren who attend the school.
"That's completely unacceptable," said Jason Smith, whose child attends Grandview Upper Elementary.
The Highlands School District posted a parent notification on its website, telling parents what happened.
It reads in part:
"Unfortunately, the videographer used an alias that was entered into the system and did not result in any hits on the name. Additionally, the videographer and the performer were escorted by school personnel the entire time they were in the building. District solicitor Mr. Ira Weiss issued a cease and desist order requiring photos and videos to be returned to the district and not used in any publicizing for the artist."
Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter
Defense attorney Michael DeRiso doesn't believe Carter violated his 10-year probation because he had no direct contact with the youths.
But federal prosecutors in Pittsburgh say Carter violated probation by not registering with police and running the youth video business without telling his probation officer, among other offenses.
Carter could face more charges.
A federal judge hasn't set a hearing on the matter. Carter faces a March 1 preliminary hearing on the state charges and remained jailed Thursday.
He served three years in federal prison before his probation in the porn case.
(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
