Credit: Bensalem police
A Tullytown Borough man previously arrested by police for allegedly attempting to meet who he thought was a teen girl for a sexual encounter has been transferred to federal custody after being indicted last week, federal authorities confirmed.
Advertisements
Bo Branstetter, 30, appeared in federal court Wednesday for an arraignment before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth L. Toplin and was ordered detained pending trial.
A federal grand jury indicted Branstetter after an FBI investigation.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania charged him with attempted use of an interstate commerce facility to entice a minor to engage in sexual conduct, as well as attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor.
Advertisements
Branstetter used the internet and cell phone service from about June 13 to June 23 to knowingly persuade, induce, entice, and coerce a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity, including involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child and statutory sexual assault. He is also accused of attempting to send obscene material to a person he believed was under 16 years old during that same period, according to the indictment.
The federal charges came after a June investigation by Bensalem Township police, who first arrested Branstetter.
Advertisements
Police said Branstetter began communicating on June 13 via a social media app with a person he believed was a 13-year-old eighth-grade girl.
“Branstetter advised he wanted to engage in sexual acts and requested that the juvenile send explicit photographs of herself. Branstetter at that time sent several sexually explicit photos and videos of himself,” police said.
Detectives said Branstetter continued chatting over several days, reiterating his desire to engage in sex acts.
Advertisements
Investigators arranged a meeting in Bensalem Township between Branstetter and the person he believed was a teen.
“Branstetter drove from his home to meet up with the juvenile but instead was met by Bensalem Township police who took Branstetter into custody without incident,” authorities said at the time.
Advertisements
When he was arrested in Bucks County, Branstetter was out on bail for a similar case in Camden County, New Jersey, police said.
A 2024 Camden County Prosecutor’s Office report states Branstetter was accused of using an app to communicate with a detective posing as a 14-year-old girl, leading to his arrest at a park when he allegedly attempted to meet for a sexual encounter.
Advertisements
Branstetter, who faces pending charges in Bucks County related to the probe, was held at the Bucks County Correctional Facility until his transfer to federal law enforcement officials this week pursuant to the arrest warrant.
If convicted on the federal charges, Branstetter faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum potential sentence of life imprisonment.
