The Cumberland County District Attorney says the actions of the man facing numerous child sexual assault charges actually launched the investigation that led to his arrest.
63-year-old Steven Brungard is in prison without bail after admitting to sexual relations with a 10-year-old girl from his Enola neighborhood.
The DA says the charges facing the defendant are serious, including four counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, child pornography, prostitution and corruption of a minor. The investigation is on-going as police are still examining evidence seized at his home.
"Well he was a two-time Vietnam guy,” neighbor Tim White said about Brungard. “He served two tours in Vietnam and our hearts go out to the victim.”
Police say Brungard lived in this neighborhood for a number of years. Before moving here, he was convicted in 1980 on statutory rape charges.
Kids in the Manor Avenue neighborhood were encouraged to stop by and play with his pets. Inside the house there were toys, candy and stuffed animals.
Police believe the only identified victim cut off contact with the defendant. He sensed he might be discovered. Brungard then made contact with Child Protective Services in Cumberland County, North Carolina.
It was immediately forwarded to Cumberland County, Pennsylvania authorities. In the referral, he reported that his in-home video surveillance captured a 10-year-old girl engaging in sexual intercourse with her 13-year-old brother.
He said he confronted them and both agreed to stop. But the investigation led to a different conclusion and when confronted, Brungard admitted what he had done.
Because the defendant is familiar with the use of online resources, the DA says the investigation continues.
"We know that he used Craigslist,” DA Dave Freed told us. “We know that he used Facebook. We know he encouraged the use of Facebook by the victim in this case, not withstanding her tender age. We know that he created videos of his offenses that we've seen. That's not based on what he told us. We've seen these."
Feed says the open questions are whether he made more videos? Are there more victims? And were those videos disseminated?
District Judge Richard Dougherty set bail at $3 million dollars.
Should it be reduced in the future and Brungard released, his movements will be restricted.
