PORT JERVIS – Four people have been arrested by Port Jervis Police in conjunction with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office on crimes of a sexual nature.
Kerry Sauer, 56, of Port Jervis, was arrested by city detectives and charged with two counts of disseminating indecent material to minors, tampering with physical evidence and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
The arrest was the result of an investigation into a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot of a closed business after hours. Sauer was located with a 13-year-old boy he met online using the Grindr phone app.
Following that investigation, Port Police located three additional suspects regarding separate incidents involving a 13-year-old male victim.
Jeremy Barrella, 46, of Belvidere, New Jersey, was charged with disseminating indecent materials to minors, two counts of criminal sexual act and endangering the welfare of a child. Barrella was also arrested after he made communication with a 13-year-old boy.
John Wells, 49, of Milford, Pennsylvania was arrested and charged with two counts of disseminating indecent materials to minors, two counts of criminal sexual act, endangering the welfare of a child, aggravated patronizing a minor, attempted aggravating a minor, and attempted criminal sexual act. He was also arrested following communication with a 13-year-old male victim on Grindr.
James Kientopp, 21, of Sparrowbush, was also charged with disseminating indecent materials to a minor, two counts of criminal sexual act and endangering the welfare of a child. He was arrested following communication with a 13-year-old male victim.
