Thomas Romspert

A Butler man is accused of taking sexually explicit photographs and video of a 16-year-old girl in the city.

Thomas P. Romspert, 28, is facing a hearing next week on five felony charges in connection with his arrest Friday by agents with the Pennsylvania Attorney General's child predator unit.

Romspert is in the Butler County Prison on $75,000 bond. He is charged with four counts of photographing, videotaping, depicting on a computer or filming sexual acts and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.

State agents began their investigation after the Butler County sheriff's deputies showed up with a bench warrant Oct. 24 at his apartment, authorities said. The 16-year-old victim was at the home.

Romspert fled out a second-story window and ran away, investigators said. Butler police found him later that day, and he was taken into custody and jailed on the warrant.

On Oct. 28, authorities received a ChildLine report about the possible exploitation of the victim. State agents spoke to the girl, who told them that she met Romspert through a mutual friend, according to charging documents.

She recounted that he eventually began taking “photos and video (of her) engaging in sex acts,” the documents said. “(She) stated that the images and videos taken by (the defendant) are on her phone.”

The agents viewed the images, investigators said, that depicted the victim “nude and engaged in indecent sexual contact.” The girl said the defendant knew she was “young enough to get him in trouble.”

The alleged crimes occurred between May and Oct. 24.

Romspert's preliminary hearing is scheduled for Monday. Online court records did not list an attorney for him.