A Corning man is facing an array of charges after a child sex assault investigation into Pennsylvania.
According to prosecutors, Peter Russell, a 55-year-old Corning-area funeral director, was arrested on May 27. He faces several charges including statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault, corruption of minors, criminal use of a communication facility, and indecent assault.
All of the charges are grades 1-3 felonies carrying lengthy sentences if convicted.
Officials say it all began with Pennsylvania State Police receiving a request for an investigation two weeks ago from an organized in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. Because of the tip—it was found Russell was sending sexually explicit messages to what he believed was a 14-year-old.
After reviewing messages from March 2025 authorities say Russell tried to meet-up with the would-be teen in Pennsylvania.
He was taken into custody on those charges. Russell is the co-owner of Carpenter’s Funeral Home and Phillips Funeral Home—both in Corning—as well as Flint Funeral Home in Addison.
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