LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. — A Texas man is facing numerous charges after allegedly trying to extort a Lancaster County girl into sending him sexually explicit photos and videos, authorities claim in charging documents.
Justin Frankum, 20, of Quanah, TX, allegedly contacted the 12-year-old East Donegal Township girl online, claiming he was 15 years old. He allegedly convinced her to send him explicit videos and photographs, according to Susquehanna Regional Police.
He then became "aggressive and threatening" toward the victim when she refused to send him additional photos and videos, eventually threatening to post the ones she'd already sent him on social media if she did not comply with his demands, police claim.
At that point, the girl became afraid and told her parents, who immediately contacted authorities, according to the complaint.
Investigators accessed the victim's cell phone, where they saw Snapchat messages where Frankum claimed to be 15 years old. The messages also indicated he knew the girl's status as a minor, according to police.
He also engaged the victim in numerous sexual conversations via text message, police claim.
Police were able to trace the Snapchat profile used to send the messages to the girl to Frankum, according to the complaint.
His driver's license photo allegedly matches a picture he sent to the girl, police said.
Frankum is charged with felony counts of photograph/film/depict on computer sex act, contact/communication with a minor – sexual abuse, child pornography, unlawful contact with a minor and criminal use of a communication facility.
He is also charged with a misdemeanor count of corruption of minors, according to police.
