(SMETHPORT, Pennsylvania, July 20, 2023):  District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer reports that former Bradford and Port Allegany man Aaron DAVIS - convicted in January of 84 counts including Unlawful Contact with a Minor, Obscene Materials to a Minor, and Child Pornography - was sentenced to a period of state incarceration of 75 years to 150 years during a sentencing hearing today at the McKean County Courthouse.

The joint investigation by several Officers with the City of Bradford Police began on April 22, 2021, when Bradford City Police Officer Matthew Gustin received a report that Davis had inquired about a young girl from her adult relative and asked the adult relative for the child’s telephone number.  The adult relative reported that she gave Davis the telephone number of the child’s mother but told Davis it was the child’s telephone number.  The child’s mother testified that she began receiving messages from Davis (who thought he was communicating with the child) where Davis said he knew the “child” was 13 or 14 and admitted that he was 28 years old.  When the messages from Davis began to be sexually provocative, the mother contacted Bradford City Police.

Officer Gustin assumed the identity of the 13 or 14 year old child and continued the communication with Davis.  Davis, believing it to be the child, continued to send sexually provocative texts and sent two pictures of his genital and a video of his genitalia. Officer Shelby Walters also interacted with Davis and assumed the identity of the child.

In a separate  investigation, Bradford City Police Officer Tony Lama learned that a student reported to a school recourse officer her concerns about Davis’ contact with younger students at Fretz.  A 12 year old female reported to Officer Lama that she had received more than 25 images and videos from Davis after he began contacting her over Snapchat.  The images and video showed male genitalia and explicit conduct. The child was offered a cell phone in exchange for sending pictures to Davis and the child met with Davis in a parking lot where she was given the phone by Davis.  Police obtained the phone from the victim and observed the images and video the child had received.

Officer Lama viewed DAVIS’s cell phone as well and was able to identify several images of a 15 year old female that showed her in a state of nudity or state of undress, some which were modified where a picture of the child was overlapped with a picture of male genitalia in such a way so as to depict illicit sexual conduct.  This new “case” was added to the existing cases prior to trial. 

DA Shaffer sought to join the cases for trial because of the overlapping evidence in each case.  The Judge approved the request.

Davis is currently serving a sentence of 20 months to 40 months for a charge of Failing to Comply with Registration Requirements as required by the law formerly known as Megan’s Law which is a law that requires individuals who have a conviction for certain sex offenses to provide and update their information to the state police.

Prior to trial, District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer provided notice to the defense that she intended to seek a higher sentence due to a particular statute in Pennsylvania that allows the District Attorney to seek a 25 year minimum sentence for those convicted of sex offenses that require registration under the law formerly known as Megan’s Law when the offender has already been ordered to register under Megan’s Law for a prior sex offense. 

DA Vettenburg-Shaffer:  “When a defendant is sentenced, the Judge is required to consider the sentencing range that is set by the legislature for any particular crime as well as a defendant’s prior criminal history.  While there is some leeway in the guidelines for a Judge in imposing a sentence, the sentence a Judge imposes has to be consistent with the sentencing guidelines.  However, when a defendant has been previously convicted of a sex offense where they are required to register under Megan’s Law (now known as SORNA), the District Attorney can seek a mandatory 25 year minimum where, in comparison,  the guideline range may only call for incarceration of a few months.  This particular provision of the sentencing code was utilized in this case to recognize the prior offense, the continued violations of the law of a sexual nature directed toward young children, and the threat to children if the defendant were to be released.  While the goals of the criminal justice system are rehabilitation, deterrence, and punishment, in this case, in my opinion, removal from society in the form of a lengthy sentence was necessary to keep children safe from Davis.” 

Davis was convicted of numerous crimes against three victims (2 direct juvenile victims and 1 intended victim where the police intervened) so a 25 year minimum for each victim was sought (for a minimum of 75 years).  Under the law, the maximum sentence is required to be at least double the minimum per DA Shaffer.  Davis was sentenced to 75 years to 150 years plus 9 years of consecutive probation.

Following the trial, DA Shaffer credited the Officers for their diligence, expertise, and dedication in solving these cases and paid special gratitude to the young woman who came forward with her concerns to a school resource officer about Davis’ contact with younger children at the school.

Following trial, Davis was required to be evaluated by the Sex Offender Assessment Board who opined that he met the definition of a sexually violent predator as that term is defined in the law.  A hearing was held and the Judge agreed – finding that Davis is a sexually violent predator.

In addition to incarceration, Davis is required to register as a sex offender for his lifetime, undergo sex offender treatment, have no contact with the victims or their immediate family, no unsupervised contact with other juveniles, and provide a DNA sample.  He is not eligible for early reentry.