Local Physician Arrested In Internet Child Sex Sting

Attorney General Tom Corbett announced Friday that agents from the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit have arrested a Pittsburgh physician accused of using the Internet to sexually proposition what he believed was a 13-year-old girl, as well as sending sexually graphic videos to the girl.

Corbett identified the defendant as Kenneth J. Tolman, 49, of Ross Township.

According to the criminal complaint, on Dec. 5, 2006, Tolman used an Internet chat room to make contact with an undercover agent from the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit, who was using the online profile of a 13-year-old girl.

The criminal charges state that Tolman asked the girl for a photo and proceeded to describe in graphic detail the sex acts he wished to perform.

Tolman was arrested Friday morning in Pittsburgh by agents from the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit.

He is charged with three counts of unlawful contact with a minor and three counts of criminal use of a computer, all third-degree felonies, which are each punishable by up to seven years in prison and a fine of $15,000.

Tolman was preliminarily arraigned today before Pittsburgh Magisterial District Judge Robert P. Ravenstahl Jr. and lodged in the Allegheny County Jail in lieu of $200,000 cash bail.

Tolman was also ordered to undergo a behavioral evaluation, prohibited from any unsupervised contact with minors and barred from using the Internet.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 2.

Anyone with information about suspected child predators is urged to contact the Child Predator Unit at 1-800-385-1044 or file an online complaint.

Related Information: - Megan's Law - Attorney General's Web Site