Fourth man arrested as Centre County human trafficking case grows in scope
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Fourth arrest links a Blair County man to patronizing and filming charges.
- Investigators allege four men produced videos and paid underage girls.
- Preliminary hearings set; investigators have asked the public for tips.
A Centre County child sexual abuse investigation grew in scope Saturday when a fourth man was arrested in connection with the probe.
James S. Kobuck, 61, of Blair County, was charged with felony counts of patronizing a victim of sexual servitude and knowingly participating in the filming of sexual acts with a child.
The new charges came nearly a month after the arrests of Samuel C. Friday, Michael H. Woomer and Morris W. Reese, all of whom are facing charges related to human trafficking. All four are accused of sexually abusing underage teenage girls in Centre County.
Kobuck and one of the other men — state police at Rockview didn’t say who in an affidavit of probable cause — were accused of enticing a teen with money to perform sexual acts with him on video.
A trooper said Kobuck was seen directly participating in the sex acts and that he received instruction from one of the other men during filming. All four were either holding the camera, performing sex acts or providing instruction, police wrote.
Kobuck was arraigned Saturday by District Judge Steven Lachman, who set bail at $50,000. He is incarcerated at the Centre County Correctional Facility and his preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.
Investigators have spent more than three weeks combing through hundreds of images depicting child sexual abuse and interviewing accusers to discover a complete picture of what happened in Friday’s basement.
Centre County prosecutors have cast Friday, 67, of Taylor Township, as the leader behind the solicitation and production of the images. Police said they received multiple tips in November that alleged he paid underage teens for sex.
Sexually explicit videos and photographs found in the home showed all four men were involved, police wrote. Centre County First Assistant District Attorney Josh Andrews said Friday’s basement was fitted with a bed, provocative outfits, a wall-mounted camera and sex toys.
During an interview after his arrest, police said Friday admitted to taking nude photographs of an underage teen and that he had some “sexual involvement” with her. No statements from the other three men have appeared in complaints against them.
Andrews previously said investigators believe the men have brought underage teens to Friday’s basement for sexual conduct since the 1990s. Most of the girls are thought to be from neighboring Blair County. Friday’s home in Taylor Township is near the county line.
Friday is facing two dozen felonies, including counts related to human trafficking and child sexual abuse material. Woomer, 66, of Taylor Township, and Reese, 64, of Blair County, are each facing at least 11 felony counts of similar charges. All three are denied bail and incarcerated at the Centre County jail.
It was the first time human trafficking charges were brought during Centre County District Attorney Bernie Cantorna’s eight years in office. Prosecutors have not ruled out other charges as more information is uncovered.
Friday and Woomer each have a preliminary hearing scheduled for Wednesday. Reese’s is scheduled for Jan. 7.
Investigators have asked the public for assistance in the investigation. Those with information were asked to contact either trooper Jonathan Hodges at 814-355-7545 or county detective John Aston at 814-355-6735.
“Whether you are a teenager, a parent, an adult survivor, or someone who has silently carried this burden for decades: you can come forward,” Andrews said at a press conference last month. “You deserve support. And you deserve to be heard.”
This story was originally published December 13, 2025 at 9:29 PM.