Bensalem Man Charged with Being Internet Child Predator

Agents from the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit arrested a Bensalem man who allegedly propositioned an undercover agent who was using the online identity of a teenage girl and traveled to meet the “girl” for sex.

Attorney General Linda Kelly identified the defendant as Amitkumar P. Manvar, 28, of the 3200 block of Hulmeville Road.

Kelly cautioned parents to regularly discuss Internet safety with their children, especially as a new school year begins. She noted that this recent arrest highlight the types of dangers children can face online.

“Predators will take advantage of any available opportunity to identify and communicate with potential victims,” Kelly said. “The start of a new school year results in new activities, new friends and new schedules for young teens, and may extend the amount of time they are left unsupervised, either before or after school.”

Kelly said that Manvar allegedly used an Internet chat room to approach an undercover agent from the Child Predator Unit on Aug. 22, identifying himself as a 27-year old from the Bensalem area. During that initial conversation Manvar asked the “girl” if her mother was home and if she had a boyfriend.

According to the criminal complaint, Manvar contacted the agent again the following morning, stating, “I am coming to your area,” and explained the sex acts he wished to perform if they could meet.

A short time after that online chat, Manvar allegedly arrived at a predetermined meeting location in Montgomery County, driving a car that matched the description he provided online.  When he arrived at the meeting location Manvar allegedly exited his vehicle and waved to a female undercover agent who was waiting nearby.

Manvar is charged with one count of unlawful contact with a minor (related to involuntary deviate sexual intercourse), a first-degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

Additionally, Manvar is charged with one count of criminal use of a communications facility, a third-degree felony punishable by up to seven years in prison and a $15,000 fine.

Manvar was preliminarily arraigned before Collegeville Magisterial District Judge Cathleen Kelly Rebar and lodged in the Montgomery County Prison in lieu of $100,000 cash bail.  He was also ordered to surrender his Indian passport and is prohibited from having any unsupervised contact with minors.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 29, at 1:30 p.m., before Magisterial District Judge Rebar.

Kelly thanked the Lower Providence Township Police Department for their cooperation and assistance with this investigation.

Manvar will be prosecuted in Montgomery County by Deputy Attorney General Christopher Jones of the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit.

Internet Safety

Kelly noted that the Child Predator Unit has made 311 arrests since it was created in 2005.

Kelly urged parents to regularly discuss Internet safety and security issues with their children, including the importance of telling a trusted adult if someone engages in inappropriate online activity, such as:

• Sexual discussions.
• Sending or requesting nude photos or explicit videos.
• Sharing links to pornography.
• Trying to arrange face-to-face meetings.

Additionally, Kelly said parents and other caregivers should also monitor how kids are using the Internet, including:

• Checking the websites they use frequently.
• Searching the social networking sites they visit.
• Asking them to show you their online profiles on Facebook and other websites.
• Discussing the items they may be posting online.

Kelly also encouraged parents to stress the importance of not sharing personal information online, like full names, ages, addresses, phone numbers and school information, and added that children should always be especially cautious about strangers who approach them online.

Suspected internet predators can be reported to the Attorney General’s Office by clicking on the “Report a Predator” link, located on the front page of the Attorney General’s website, or by calling the toll-free Child Predator Hotline at 1-800-385-1044.