By Tim Karan

Published: Wednesday, May 9, 2012, 8:50 p.m.
Updated: Thursday, May 10, 2012

A 34 year-old Braddock man is accused of posing as a 19 year-old and driving to Boggs to meet two 14-year-old girls he met online for sex.

Joshua B. Patterson, 34, went by the name Joshua Phillips when he first made contact with the girls two months ago on the social networking site myYearbook.com, authorities said. The Leader Times does not reveal the names of minors who are victims of a crime.

Patterson is alleged to have been video chatting with the victims on Skype before making plans to meet them at a location along Ridge Road on May 4.

According to a state police report, the girls became extremely nervous when they realized Patterson appeared much older than 19. He then reportedly put his arms around one of the girls and rubbed his chin against her neck. When she attempted to break free, Patterson continued holding her until the other girl managed to pull her away. The girls said they began to walk away from Patterson when he grabbed one by her hoodie and pulled her back toward him. The girls then became combative and yelled at him, at which point, Patterson got back in his car and drove away.

After an investigation, Patterson was contacted by state police in Kittanning and agreed to be interviewed on May 7. He confessed to the incident and also to meeting several other girls younger than 18 through myYearbook, police said.

Police served a search warrant and seized Patterson's cell phone, laptop, desktop computer and other electronic devices. He was placed in Armstrong County Jail in lieu of $75,000 bond.

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