Facebook Vigilante Gets Child Predator Arrested After Local Police Tipped Off

#1

The man, Michael A. Kovall of 42 Scenic Drive, was caught on video by a private citizen trying to talk to the user he thought was a 13-year-old girl, police said Thursday.

Kovall admitted he tried to chat with the Facebook user and that he believed she was only 13, court records show.

He also admitted to viewing 50 photos of child pornography within the past year, according to a criminal complaint filed in the case. A search of Kovall's Toshiba laptop turned up 12 images of child pornography, the court records state.

Police in East Cocalico Township charged Kovall with two felony counts of child pornography and one felony count of criminal use of a communication facility, a third-degree felony.

He was arraigned Tuesday in front of Magisterial District Judge Nancy Hamill. Bail is set at $15,000. Formal arraignment is scheduled for July 22.

#2

The arrest was made based on the video recorded by the private citizen who posed as a 13-year-old girl, whom police did not identify. (I know the guy)

The citizen's motive is to catch adults attempting to talk to underage girls, police reports state, an effort similar to that in the popular NBC reality series "To Catch A Predator."

A tipster directed the video to local police.

#3

Local police and the Lancaster County district attorney's office have had no communication with the Facebook administrator, district attorney spokesman Brett Hambright said.

No charges are being pursued against the Facebook user within Lancaster County, Hambright said.

#4 Video

Before you comment warriors get ready to blow up the feed take a peak at what a law student had to say about the matter:

#5

This isn't the first time a child predator has been brought to justice Here is another time a predator got got!