Updated 9:13 p.m. Nov. 20.
Days after a Centre County man was arrested for allegedly soliciting underage teens for sexual activity and recording the encounters, two more men are now facing charges in the case.
Michael H. Woomer, 66, of Taylor Township, and Morris W. Reese, 64, of Blair County, were each charged on Thursday with 10 felony counts of child sexual abuse material.
Police on Monday executed a search warrant at the Taylor Township home of Samuel C. Friday, 67, after receiving multiple Childline referrals alleging that he had “paid juveniles to perform various sexual acts with him” and recorded the abuse.
Numerous videos and photographs found in his basement showed known juveniles and others suspected to be minor teenagers posing and performing sexual acts with Friday and two other men, according to an affidavit of probable cause. Investigators also found “a bed, provocative outfits, a wall-mounted digital camera and sex toys” in Friday’s basement, Centre County First Assistant District Attorney Joshua Andrews said at a press conference on Wednesday in Bellefonte.
The charging documents filed on Thursday allege that police observed Friday, Woomer and Reese having sexual intercourse with juvenile females on camera, as well as “communicating with two juveniles while recording them in partial and full states of nudity.”
“From a brief review of this evidence it appears this conduct has been occurring for multiple years,” police wrote.
It was unclear if Woomer or Reese had yet been interviewed by investigators. At the time of his arrest, Friday admitted to taking nude photographs of a juvenile stepping out of the shower and that he had “some sexual involvement” with the same girl, according to an affidavit. He “indicated that the juvenile female requested sexual acts from him possibly in exchange for money,” police wrote.
Andrews said on Wednesday that “the number and identity of all the individuals possibly involved or impacted is unknown.” While two teenagers depicted in the materials have been identified, police were still investigating the identities of others, and Andrews urged any possible victims to come forward.
Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to contact Trooper Jonathan Hodges at the state police Rockview barracks or by calling at (814) 355-7545, or County Detective John Aston in the District Attorney’s Office at (814) 355-6735.
“We know that coming forward can be difficult,” Andrews said. “It can feel overwhelming, emotional, intimidating, but I want to assure you that you are not alone. Our team of prosecutors, investigators and victim advocacy professionals is here to listen, to support you and to guide you through every step of the process.”
Woomer and Reese were arraigned on Thursday night and denied bail by District Judge Allen Sinclair, who cited the “nature of offenses, possibility of additional charges [and] victim fear of retaliation.” They are jailed at the Centre County Correctional Facility.
Friday has been held without bail since his arrest on the same charges.
Preliminary hearings for all three men are scheduled for Nov. 26.
