Prosecutors plan to file human trafficking charges this week against three men accused of sexually abusing teenagers in a Centre County home.
Since the arrest of Samuel C. Friday, 67, on Nov. 17, on child pornography charges, investigators have been reviewing evidence collected from his basement and believe he may have been bringing underage teens there for sexual activity since the 1990s, Centre County First Assistant District Attorney Joshua Andrews said during a press conference Monday in Bellefonte.
Now prosecutors expect to file new and “more comprehensive” charges within the next two days against Friday and two other men arrested last week in connection with the case, Michael H. Woomer, 66, of Taylor Township, and Morris W. Reese, 64, of Blair County.
The new complaint against Friday will include felony charges related to human trafficking of two juveniles and production and possession of child pornography. Woomer and Reese will face new felony charges of patronizing victims of human trafficking and production of child pornography.
District Attorney Bernie Cantorna said it will be the first time since he took office in 2018 that human trafficking charges have been filed in Centre County.
Acting on multiple Childline referrals alleging that Friday paid juveniles to perform sexual acts, state police at Rockview searched his home and uncovered numerous videos and photographs of all three men engaged in sexual activity with girls known and suspected to be under the age of 18, according to investigators.
“Footage recovered from Mr. Friday’s basement suggests that all three men were assisting with or at least aware that the juveniles were being recorded,” Andrews said.
Andrews said last week that investigators also found “a bed, provocative outfits, a wall-mounted digital camera and sex toys” in Friday’s basement.
Friday, Woomer and Reese “account for every adult male suspected at this point to be involved,” but the number and identities of all potential victims remain unknown, Andrews said.
Cantorna declined to say how many witnesses and potential victims have come forward since the arrests, but said that police have received “numerous” phone calls and interviews have been ongoing.
Most of the potential victims reside in neighboring Blair County, and based on some allegations investigators suspect Friday may have been engaging in the conduct since the early 1990s. Cantorna said they are not sure if Woomer and Reese were allegedly involved that far back, but that “we can say definitively more recently.”
“Investigators have been working tirelessly, following all available leads to discover the complete picture of what has happened in Mr. Friday’s basement over the years,” Andrews said.
“Let me assure the public at least at this point it is related to the three charged defendants,” he later added. “We don’t have any evidence to suggest that it extends beyond that and if there is we’ll follow it wherever it takes us and that’ll be a large product of individuals from the public coming forward who know these individuals and can share their information with us.”
In an interview with police after 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 of probable cause. He “indicated that the juvenile female requested sexual acts from him possibly in exchange for money,” police wrote.
Possible victims who feel ready to come forward and anyone with information related to the case are 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.
Untrue myths surrounding sexual abuse often keep survivors from speaking up, Andrews said.
“Many people might think that ‘real’ child sex abuse is committed by strangers,” he said. “In reality, most of this abuse is committed by someone the juvenile knows. This can make coming forward feel impossible, especially if the person was trusted, respected or loved.”
He also noted that some may wrongly believe that because a juvenile cooperated and wasn’t physically forced into the activity it wasn’t abuse.
“Offenders often use money, gifts, or promises as tools of manipulation and coercion,” Andrews said. “These tactics take advantage of a juvenile’s vulnerabilities, their limited life experience and sometimes their basic needs. When a juvenile ‘goes along with it,’ it is not a choice in any meaningful or legal sense. It is the result of grooming and exploitation by an adult who knew exactly what they were doing.”
Delaying disclosure of abuse because of feelings of fear, shame or confusion is also normal, Andrews said.
“If any of these circumstances are a part of your story, you are not alone, and you are not to blame,” he said. “If any of these myths have kept you silent, we invite you to take the first step. Whether you are a teenager, a parent, an adult survivor, or someone who has silently carried this burden for decades: you can come forward. You deserve support. And you deserve to be heard.”
Investigators will respect the wishes of anyone who comes forward “in terms of what happens with the information that they provide,” Andrews said.
“We want to develop a complete story and a picture and make sure we’re not missing anything,” he said.
