By Paul Peirce

Published: Thursday, August 19, 2010

An East Huntingdon man who told state police his estranged wife and her boyfriend sent sexually suggestive photos via cell phone to an 11-year-old boy, was ordered Wednesday to stand trial on identical charges.

After a hearing in Scottdale, Senior District Justice Frank DelBene said there was sufficient evidence for Andrew E. Cramer, 29, of 106 Huntingdon Drive, Apt. 108, to be bound over for trial on charges of corruption of minors, disseminating explicit sexual material to a minor and unlawful contact with a minor.

State police Trooper Isaac N. Lanham said Cramer initially telephoned police Aug. 2 to report his wife, Rebecca Lynn Murphy, and her boyfriend, Robert A. Pickford, both 29, of 507 Pittsburgh St., Scottdale, were sending the child photographs of nude and partially nude women on the boy's cell phone. Lanham said Cramer was able to produce the child's phone and showed him the photos.

"He said he and his girlfriend discovered the photographs when they found the boy's cell phone behind their television," Lanham said.

During subsequent conversations with the child and Murphy, Lanham said he learned Cramer also may have sent the boy suggestive photos via his cell phone.

Murphy, who admitted to police that she provided the boy with a sex toy, testified against her husband.

Under questioning from First Assistant District Attorney Allen Powanda, Murphy said Andrew Cramer also attempted to give the boy a magazine containing photos of nude women.

Lanham said Cramer later told him he gave the magazine to Murphy to pass along to her boyfriend.

"Mr. Cramer did say he may have looked at such magazines in front of the boy when they were in his truck. He also said he may or may not have sent pictures on the boy's old cell phone," Lanham said.

Although the boy's old phone had been discarded, police confiscated a new phone containing some suggestive images that were recently sent.

Just before Cramer's hearing, Murphy, Pickford, and another man, Monty R. Murphy Jr., of 331 White Road, Normalville, waived their rights to preliminary hearings and also will stand trial.

Cramer's uncle, Robert Cramer, 42, of 535 Tukosh St., East Huntingdon, faces a hearing Sept. 1. Police allege he also sent a photo of a nude woman to the child.

All five are free on $20,000 unsecured bond.

The youth did not testify at yesterday's hearing but will be available at trial.

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