LIGONIER, Pa. — Terry Barr, 80, is behind bars at the Westmoreland County Prison. He was arrested Friday and a judge denied his bond.
The Ligonier Valley man now faces a list of disturbing charges after one of his alleged victims came forward 12 years later.
The alleged victim told Ligonier Valley Police the abuse happened when he was 12 years old. He said Barr paid him and another boy to do work around his house.
At Barr’s home on West Church Street, police say Barr asked the boys if they wanted to “play” for the money - insinuating that Barr wanted the boys to take their clothes off and perform sex acts. The criminal complaint says the two boys agreed to let Barr see them naked because they could use the money. Police say the community is in disbelief.
“They were obviously kind of shocked. Especially since he lives in town and he was obviously involved in the community in certain aspects where I guess you really don’t know what’s going on at your next-door neighbors,” Chief Michael Matrunics with the Ligonier Valley Police Department said.
Police took electronic evidence where Barr reportedly had child pornography saved.
“So there’s a lot more to look into, but we had enough at this point to obviously take action to the charges that were brought forth and put him into custody at this point,” Matrunics said.
The alleged victim told police that as he got older, Barr reportedly lost interest in him and his friend. The criminal complaint says Barr would try to get the boys to find new kids for “play time” - even soliciting the alleged victim’s girlfriend to find him new children.
“It is very tough. These cases are very difficult to navigate through, to understand; obviously, it would be more difficult for a victim to go through this,” Matrunics said.
Police say it’s not clear right now if there are more victims, but they are investigating that.
“Obviously it took all this time for this victim to come forward, so what’s to say there’s not other victims that haven’t been able to do that or want to proceed forward,” Matrunics said.
Police say if you were a victim of Barr, they want to hear from you and to give them a call.
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