A Pine Grove man could spend the rest of his life in prison after a federal grand jury in Scranton indicted him Tuesday on two sex-related charges stemming from his contact with a teenage girl.
Josiah Ferrebee, 19, faces charges of production of child pornography and enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph F. Saporito Jr., Wilkes-Barre, has ordered that Ferrebee be detained pending trial and undergo a mental health examination to determine whether he is competent to stand trial.
Federal authorities allege that on Jan. 26 in Schuylkill County, Ferrebee coerced and persuaded the 15-year-old girl to engage in sexually explicit conduct in order to produce a visual image of that activity. They also allege that at the same time, he enticed, persuaded and coerced her to engage in illegal sexual activity.
If convicted, Ferrebee faces mandatory minimum prison sentences of 15 years for the charge of production of child pornography and 10 years for the charge of enticement of a minor. The latter also carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Agents from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and detectives from the county sheriff’s office in Grand Traverse, Michigan, investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa is prosecuting the case, while Christopher J. Osborne, Scranton, represents Ferrebee.