A Pennsylvania police officer has been accused of using Snapchat to lure children and solicit child abuse materials.
Tamaqua Police Department officer Christopher Cordes, 29, was charged on Friday with 18 counts of child abuse, as prosecutors accuse him of sharing inappropriate images of children on social media.
A search warrant for Cordes’ Snapchat account reportedly turned up conversations where the cop described his sexual attraction to children.
Cordes also allegedly admitted participating in sexual acts with dogs in one Snapchat conversation, as reported by WNEP. He faces three misdemeanor counts of sexual intercourse with animals.
The cop used the username ‘haytherecowboy’ on Snapchat, where he said he wanted to impregnate a 13-year-old, according to prosecutors.
An investigation was launched after the Delaware County internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received a tip from Snap Inc. about a user posting a naked image of a child.
A witness told investigators that in 2021 Cordes allegedly said he wanted to have kids so he could abuse them.
Cordes said he could get away with it because he was a police officer, according to the witness.
The witness said Cordes gave her a sexually transmitted disease and sent her $150 for treatment, according to an affidavit.
Tamaqua Police Chief Michael Hobbs said in a statement: ‘We are not aware of any allegations of inappropriate activity while Officer Cordes was on duty.
‘At this time, Officer Cordes has been suspended indefinitely without pay for conduct unbecoming a police officer.’
Cordes, who joined the police department in 2021, is being held on $250,000 bail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 12.
Tamaqua resident Karyl Paisley told WNEP she was ‘appalled’ by the accusations against Cordes.
‘If he did it, then he deserves to be charged.’