A convicted murderer housed at SCI-Mahanoy in Schuylkill County is facing numerous felony charges after authorities say he coerced a minor female into performing sex acts on video calls with him from the prison.
According to court documents filed with Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker, an investigation into 33-year-old inmate Sandy Duran began on Feb. 20 when calls between he and a minor girl started being monitored.
There was a suspicion that Duran would use the child to smuggle contraband into the prison during a contact visit on Feb. 21. The minor, authorities with the Dept. of Corrections Bureau of Investigations and Intelligence, was reportedly going to use a fake ID, posing as an adult from Texas.
This led to further investigation of previous calls between Duran and the person who was later determined to be a 17-year-old girl. And that’s when evidence of sexual abuse and exploitation were discovered, investigators say.
For instance, on Feb. 5, Duran talked the girl into masturbating on camera during their call, completely exposing herself to the inmate.
The next day, Duran allegedly asked the girl when she turned 18 later this year.
On Feb. 10, Duran alleged spoke explicitly to the minor during one call and then on a follow-up call, the girl once again masturbates on camera, per his request. While this is happening, Duran is reportedly recorded saying explicit things to the minor.
Similar calls happen on Feb. 18 and Feb. 19, investigators say.
Duran is currently serving 20-40 years in prison after pleading guilty to third-degree murder in Philadelphia County back in 2013.
He’s now facing two felony counts of sexual abuse of children, two felony counts of sexual exploitation of children, and felony counts of possession of child sexual abuse material, unlawful contact with a minor, and criminal use of a communication device. Duran has also been charged with corruption of minors and producing/presenting/directing obscene performance by a minor.
His arraignment is scheduled for May 19 before Kilker.
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