Pottstown man held on child luring charges

WEST NORRITON » A Pottstown man has been arrested and charged with unlawful contact with a minor, attempted indecent assault of a person under 13 and related offenses for allegedly trying to lure a boy into a bathroom for sex at the Walmart at 650 Trooper Road.

Brian J. Whiting, 41, was taken into custody and remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility with

bail set at $100,000, in connection with the incident that occurred May 19, according to a press release issued by Thursday by West Norriton police.

The investigation began when police responded to the store at approximately 10:55 p.m. for a report that a man was trying to solicit sexual favors from a juvenile male near a rest room in the store.

The victim provided police with a detailed physical description of the suspect that included what he was wearing and where he was headed after the incident.

Police located Whiting nearby and the victim positively identified him, the release said.

Investigators also collected store security video which corroborated the victim’s account. According to the release, Whiting can be seen on the video entering the Walmart on several occasions wearing different clothes.

In addition to unlawful contact with a minor and attempted indecent assault, Whiting faces charges of child luring, criminal attempt at deviate sexual intercourse with a child and corruption of minors.

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for June 28 before District Judge Marc Alfarano.

Brian J. Whiting