Former fire company president charged on corruption of minors, other charges

A former president of a fire company in Palmerton has been charged with the indecent assault of a minor.

Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced on Monday felony charges against Keith Cebrosky, 65, of the 800 block of East Princeton Avenue, Palmerton, for indecent assault, unlawful contact with a minor, sexual assault by a volunteer or employee of a nonprofit association, corruption of minors, intimidation of witness or victim and criminal use of a communication facility.

Cebrosky, a former president of the West End Fire Co. No. 2, was charged last week.

“This is a deeply troubling case,” Attorney General Shapiro said. “This former fire company president knew the victim had been abused by another member of the same fire company. He then propositioned the minor and touched him for his own sexual gratification. Then he tried to cover it all up by paying off the child victim. That’s despicable. Our Child Predator Section will prosecute any offender who harms any child, no matter who they are.”

Cebrosky arranged for a $1,000 cash payment to be delivered to the victim through a third party — in exchange for dropping charges against him.

The 16-year-old victim met Cebrosky through volunteer work at the fire company.

The same victim was previously victimized by another fire company volunteer, Jordan Beggan, who was arrested last year by the Office of Attorney General and pleaded guilty to felony charges in April.

Following Beggan’s arrest last year, the victim reported that Cebrosky patted the victim’s groin and buttocks one day, saying, “Wake up.” Cebrosky also told the minor, “Now that Beggan is gone, is it my turn?” according to the criminal complaint.

When the victim asked Cebrosky what he meant, Cebrosky propositioned him, asking the minor to perform sex acts in front of him. Cebrosky offered the victim cigarette money and cigars on separate occasions to perform the sex act.

After Office of Attorney General agents questioned Cebrosky, officials said he contacted a third party to arrange a payment of $1,000 to the victim in exchange for dropping the charges against him. Cebrosky handed the $1,000 to the third party shortly before he was arrested at the location designated for the cash payoff to drop the charges.

During an interview with investigators, Cebrosky admitted to propositioning the minor and coordinating a payoff to the victim.

“This arrest happened because of strong law enforcement cooperation with our partners at the Pennsylvania State Police and Homeland Security Investigations,” Attorney General Shapiro said. “Thanks to their support, another child predator — one who was in a position of public trust — is off our streets.”

Cebrosky was arraigned on Friday before Magisterial District Justice William Kissner of Palmerton.

Bail was set at $500,000 cash, and he was taken to Carbon County prison, pending a preliminary hearing on July 11.

Last month, all fire response from West End Fire Company No. 2 was halted, effective immediately.

Borough Manager Rodger Danielson said at that time the fire company had voluntarily withdrawn its services and had withdrawn from the Palmerton Fire Department.

Danielson said that the borough would continue to provide all the emergency services that it can out of the municipal fire station.

A post on the fire company’s Facebook page stated at that time that, “The West End Fire Company is not closing. We are suspending response due a safety concern over the lack of manpower on both the administrative and firefighting side, pending reorganization. This was discussed with the Municipal Fire Department to ensure coverage in the community would not be diminished.”

Suspected predators can be reported by calling the Child Predator Hotline at 800-385-1044. Submit a tip on child predators by texting “PAKIDS” followed by your tip to 847411.