Bucks County officials announce arrests of 17 alleged child predators

Oct 15, 2025 - 08:00

Officials in Bucks County announced the arrests of 17 alleged child predators as part of the Bensalem Police Department’s ongoing investigation into internet crimes against children. The investigation – which has gone on for months – involved Bensalem detectives posing as children in order to crack down on child predators.

“Although these 17 men were unrelenting in their pursuit of children for their own deviant sexual gratification, the Bensalem Township Police Department was unrelenting in pursuing them, and my office will be unrelenting in their prosecution,” Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn said. “We are proud to stand with Bensalem Township in this endeavor and grateful for their unwavering commitment to the cause. There is no more worthy cause than protecting our children. Because of efforts like these, Bucks County is leading the state in arrests and prosecutions of Internet Crimes Against Children.”

Resources for victims of sexual assault are available through the National Sexual Violence Resources Center and the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 800-656-4673.

During a press conference on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025, Schorn along with Bensalem Mayor Joseph DiGirolamo and Bensalem Police Director of Public Safety William McVey announced the following arrests and charges:

Charged with soliciting sex and traveling for sex with a minor:

Anthony Dillard, 49, of West Chester, Pennsylvania
David Sheregi, 31, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Eric Karch, 53, of Jenkintown, Pennsylvania
Warren Batz, 38, of Slatington, Pennsylvania
Ali Memis, 64, of Levittown, Pennsylvania
Oscar Castillo-Peralta, 53, of Mays Landing, New Jersey

Charged with soliciting sex from a minor

Steven Patras, 65, of Hainesport, New Jersey
Ryan Fisher, 26, of Womelsdorf, Pennsylvania
Ian Evans, 35, of Philadelphia
John Blaskowski, 56, of Frederick, Maryland
George Shetzline, 54, of Bristol, Pennsylvania

Charged with possession or distribution of child pornography

Joseph Ibbetson, 43, of Bensalem, Pennsylvania
John Breslin, 42, of Bensalem, Pennsylvania
Kyle Binder, 30, of Warminster, Pennsylvania
Dennis Realley, 74, of Bensalem, Pennsylvania
Terrel Roane, 22, of Bensalem, Pennsylvania
Matthew Wolff, 34, of Bensalem, Pennsylvania

“The vast majority of these individuals are not from Bensalem Township,” Schorn said. “Some not from Bensalem and some not from the Commonwealth of Pa. Sadly they are among us and we know that as Director McVey said, the recidivism rate is through the roof so we have to have proactive measures taken every day to combat it.”

Investigators also said at least six of the suspects traveled to Bensalem with the intention of having sex with children.

“Their intentions were clear to us in law enforcement,” McVey said. “They traveled to a specific location at times with condoms or candy in their possession at the time of the arrest.”

Bensalem Police have also continuously made social media posts announcing the arrests of the suspects in order to let the public know what they’re doing to stop child predators.

“We have made a stance that we publicly post all these arrests,” McVey said. “Some people don’t think that’s something you should do because it might be a warning to predators not to do this, but this hasn’t deterred them at all.”

Officials also said two of the suspects, Dillard and Patras, were already on the Megan’s Law sexual offender registry at the time of their arrests.

“This crime often leads to recidivism by those who were arrested,” McVey said. “So, when they get out, oftentimes they do the same exact thing.”

Director McVey also highlighted his department’s ongoing collaboration with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office and the FBI as they continue to crack down on child predators.

“These arrests are the result of tireless investigative work,” McVey said. “Our officers are dedicated to tracking down offenders who use technology to exploit children. There are no jurisdictional boundaries for child predators; they can victimize our children from anywhere, and we will continue to hold them accountable and keep our children safe.”

Online court records do not list attorney information for Sheregi, Shetzline, or Ibbetson. NBC10 reached out to the attorneys for the 14 other suspects. We will provide statements once we receive them.

During Tuesday’s press conference, officials also shared 15 apps that have been used by child predators that parents should be aware of. Those apps include the following: