A 29-year-old Ellwood City man who according to police had a sexual relationship with a 12-year-old girl is now facing federal prosecution after a grand jury in Pittsburgh indicted him this week.
Shayne Clapper had been arrested in February on state child porn charges and was later charged again with child rape and other sex offenses involving the girl.
A federal grand jury handed up new charges on Tuesday involving videos and images he is accused of making. Clapper faces a count of coercing the girl, production of porn and receipt of porn. The case was unsealed Friday in U.S. District Court.
Clapper was previously accused in state court of having sex with the girl and possession of nude photos and videos of her on his phone following a police investigation that began in January.
State court records indicate that the girl’s father had become concerned about her relationship with Clapper and told a mental health therapist. The father said Clapper had moved in next door in an apartment complex and the girl began riding with Clapper as he made food deliveries.
Clapper also reportedly took her shopping, including buying underwear, according to police.
A search of Clapper’s phone turned up partially nude images of the girl and sexual texts, police said.
Clapper is in custody in Lawrence County on the state charges. He faces an initial appearance in federal court on Aug. 28.
Torsten covers the courts for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Reach him at jtorsteno@gmail.com.
