BUTLER TWP — A 54-year-old Lyndora man is accused of forcing a woman to have sex with a 12-year-old boy.

Butler Township police allege the defendant, Chester H. Thompson, took pictures of the alleged 2017 sexual assault and sent at least one of those photos to another person.

Authorities charged Thompson with conspiracy to commit the crimes of rape of a child and statutory sexual assault; two counts of photographing, videotaping, depicting on computer or filming a child engaged in sexual acts; and disseminating and possessing child pornography. Additionally, he is charged with three misdemeanors — corruption of minors, child endangerment and simple assault,

Police obtained an arrest warrant on Friday for Thompson following a nearly year-and-a-half investigation. However, according to authorities, Thompson moved out of state the day after his initial interview with investigators. State police Detective Max Wittlinger said Thompson is expected to turn himself in to authorities, possibly next month.

A November 2017 tip through the ChildLine abuse hot line launched the investigation. According to information provided to the hot line, Thompson allegedly had child pornography on his cell phone.

Specifically, charging documents provided by authorities said Thompson had sexually explicit photos of a nearly 30-year-old woman and a 12-year-old boy.

The same day investigators received information from the child abuse hot line, the defendant appeared at the police station for an interview. He allegedly claimed that several days earlier he had seen the woman and boy engaged in sex at an apartment in Lyndora.

According to the police affidavit filed by Wittlinger, Thompson admitted taking at least one photo of the alleged sex act. The document went on to report that Thompson said he sent one photo to a friend. A police investigator looked at Thompson's cell phone and found three photos appearing to show a woman and boy “engaged in sexual intercourse,” according to Wittlinger's affidavit.

Thompson voluntarily surrendered the phone to police, who sent it to state police forensic specialists for analysis. However, Wittlinger said Thompson moved to Wisconsin within 24 hours to apparently be with family living there. He added that police have been unable to contact him since that time.

Authorities conducted a forensic interview of the boy, who claimed the defendant forced him to have sex with the woman. The boy alleged that Thompson took photos of the sex acts. He also told investigators that the defendant forced him to drink alcoholic beverages.

Police interviewed the woman involved in November 2017. She recounted some details about the incident that allegedly occurred in August or early September 2017.

Wittlinger said the woman has not been charged and police believe she and the boy are both victims. He added how both of them are cooperating with authorities.

According to authorities, Thompson contacted the office of District Judge Kevin O'Donnell earlier this week and made arrangements to turn himself in to the office in May.