Kingston man accused of blackmailing underage boys into sex

KINGSTON — A borough man has been accused of blackmailing underage children to have sex with him and send him nude photos.

Charges were filed against Chance Joshua Alba, 18, of Kingston, on Friday.

He is facing seven felony counts of child sex crimes, including counts of sexual abuse of a minor, dissemination of explicit sexual material of a minor, indecent sexual assault of a person less than 16, and two counts each of unlawful contact with a minor and criminal use of a communication facility.

The investigation into Alba began in December, when the mother of at least one of the victims came to the Kingston Municipal Police Station.

According to police, the mother told them that Alba had met her children in the neighborhood last July, and told them he was 14. The children and Alba exchanged phone numbers and accounts to various social media platforms, before eventually all beginning to play the online game Fortnite together.

The mother said the children also began to swim at Alba’s home, with other neighborhood children apparently also going to Alba’s home.

According to her, she said Alba sent a picture of his penis to her child, and she believes other children in the neighborhood were also subjected to unsolicited pictures.

Several alleged victims were interviewed at the Luzerne County Children’s Advocacy Center in January. One of the alleged victims said Alba had sent him a “bad pic,” which was described as a picture of Alba’s penis. Alba then allegedly pressured the boy into sending a photo back, while he eventually did.

Another alleged victim said Alba would contact him either through Snapchat or the chat feature in Fortnite, continuously asking the boy to come over his house. The boy eventually did, going to play video games.

Alba allegedly allowed the boy to try his vape, then attempted to blackmail him, saying he would tell the boy’s parents he had been vaping if he did not stay at his house longer.

Alba then allegedly touched the boy’s penis with his mouth.

A third victim told investigators that Alba had said he had oral sex with a 13- or 14-year-old.

Magisterial District Judge James J. Haggerty set bail for Alba at $120,000 straight cash, and Alba was transferred to the Luzerne County Correctional Facility, Wilkes-Barre, after he was unable to post bail. He has a preliminary hearing scheduled for March 4.

Kingston police are asking anyone with additional information contact Detective Stephen Gibson, either at 570-288-3674, ext. 494, or through email at [email protected].