A 31-year-old man from Magnolia, Texas has been extradited to Montgomery County this week to face charges after prosecutors say he paid a 13-year-old Whitpain Township girl for sexually explicit photos and mailed her sexual items, including lingerie and a vibrator. Authorities say the online relationship started last summer and that digital files recovered during the probe are now central pieces of evidence in the case.
Prosecutors identified the suspect as Mitchell Van Dusen and say he is charged with human trafficking of a minor, unlawful contact with a minor and sexual abuse of children, according to NBC10 Philadelphia. Investigators told reporters they recovered multiple photos and videos on the teen's phone that allegedly show her in sexually explicit poses, along with other material now cataloged as evidence.
The investigation kicked off after the juvenile went to Whitpain Township police on July 17, 2025 and reported that she had received a package she believed came from an older man. That parcel allegedly contained lingerie, a necklace and a vibrator. The girl told officers she first met the man on July 4, 2025 in an online chat room, then continued talking with him on TikTok and Snapchat. Prosecutors say Van Dusen sent her money through a payment app in exchange for explicit images, as reported by Patch.
Whitpain Township and Montgomery County detectives worked with Texas authorities to execute a search warrant at Van Dusen's Magnolia home on April 8. He was arrested in Texas, then extradited to Montgomery County on April 22. Van Dusen was arraigned on April 24, and a judge set cash bail at $500,000 with conditions that he surrender his passport, avoid all contact with minors and stay off smart devices, according to NBC10 Philadelphia.
Charges and court schedule
Van Dusen is charged with human trafficking of a minor, unlawful contact with a minor and sexual abuse of children. A preliminary hearing is slated for this Thursday, when a magistrate judge will review probable cause and determine how the case proceeds, according to Patch.
What investigators say they found
Investigators say forensic analysis of devices uncovered multiple files that allegedly depict the juvenile in sexually explicit situations, along with other images now entered into evidence. Because the case involves a minor, prosecutors and court records limit what can be publicly disclosed about the victim.
Legal context
Under Pennsylvania law, trafficking in individuals is prosecuted under 18 Pa.C.S. § 3011 and unlawful contact with a minor is defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 6318. Those statutes provide for felony penalties and include special protections for human trafficking victims, including restrictions on releasing a victim's identity. The charges remain allegations at this stage, and Van Dusen is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in court, according to the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes.
What to watch next and resources
The preliminary hearing scheduled for Thursday is the next key step in the case, and Montgomery County courts are expected to set additional dates after that proceeding. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Whitpain Township Police Department at (610) 279-9033. Suspected online sexual exploitation of children can also be reported to the NCMEC's CyberTipline.
