Suspect allegedly used PS3 in cyber sex crime

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- It's a first for Harris County -- a cyber sex crime committed not with a computer, but with a popular video game console. A man arrested in Kentucky didn't need his computer to view and send child pornography to an 11-year-old Houston area girl.

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Anthony Scott O'Shea, 24, was arrested Friday at his home in Sommerset, Kentucky. Authorities said he was viewing and sending child pornography through his Sony Playstation3. O'Shea reportedly didn't even own a computer.

"He used the PS3 for everything, checked his email, played on the internet, on his PS3 and of course, played his games on PS3, but had no computer," said Sgt. Gary Spurger of Harris County Precinct 4.

Investigators showed us how O'Shea used his PS3 to instant message his victim, an 11-year-old girl from the Houston area. Sgt. Spurger said O'Shea befriended the girl, winning her trust and ultimately making obscene demands.

"He asked for pictures of her breasts. She said no. He said friends do things for each other. You're on my friends list. If you don't, I'm gonna remove you, at which point she feels nervous and scared and sent the pictures," said Sgt. Spurger.

Soon afterward, the girl was asked to send nude pictures of herself and authorities said she did using her webcam.

Spurger said the girl had permission to play the PS3 and her parents knew about the internet connection but didn't know about the nude pictures until she told them. The parents immediately notified authorities.

O'Shea has been charged with three felonies, sexual performance of a child, online solicitation of a minor, and promotion of child porn.

Sgt. Spurger said O'Shea's influence over his young victim will be hard to remove as witnessed by this exchange between the girl and investigators.

"The last comment she made was, 'Why is my friend going to jail?' That's what she said and the hardest part was I wanted to reach through the video and tell her, 'Hey that's not your friend, never was and never will be,'" said Sgt. Spurger.

Authorities said O'Shea emailed the girl's nude photo across the country. O'Shea remains in custody in Kentucky under $300,000 bond.

If you believe your child has been victimized by O'Shea or anyone else through the internet, you can contact the Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force by clicking here.

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