Venus Man Charged With 11 Counts of Felony Child Exploitation Following Snapchat Investigation

PINEGROVE TWP., Pa. (EYT) — A 27-year-old man is in the Venango County Prison following a state police investigation into messages about abusing a young child and the possession of child sexual abuse material, according to a criminal complaint. Court records show that 27-year-old Zared Donivan Baker, of Venus, faces the following criminal charges: Sexual Abuse of Children – Child Sexual Abuse Material, Felony 2 (seven counts) Sexual Abuse of Children – Child Sexual Abuse Material, Felony 3 (four counts) Criminal Use of a Communication Facility, Felony 3 Produce/Present/Direct Obscene Performance – Minor, Misdemeanor 1 Franklin-based State Police filed the charges on Thursday, May 28, 2026, in Magisterial District Judge Patrick E. Lowrey’s office. The investigation began on March 23, 2026, when a known person reported to police that Baker used Snapchat to communicate with another individual about sexually abusing a four-year-old child, the affidavit of probable cause states. Trooper Harriger reported in the complaint that he reviewed hundreds of messages exchanged between October 2021 and February 2023. According to the complaint, the messages discussed engaging in sexual acts with the young boy. Baker also requested nude images and explicit videos of the child, the complaint continues. Police obtained search
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