Law enforcement officers arrested a 25-year-old Scranton woman this month after she filmed herself performing oral sex on an 8-year-old and then put it on the social media platform TikTok, according to Lackawanna County District Attorney Brian Gallagher.
According to the criminal complaint, Zsionte D. Owens, 1700 Roselynn St., is charged with numerous felony offenses, including rape of a child, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, aggravated indecent assault of a child, unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors, indecent assault, endangering the welfare of a child and multiple related counts.
She remains at Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $500,000 bail.
The investigation alleges that during the month of March, Owens engaged in repeated sexual abuse involving an 8-year-old boy, including conduct that constitutes some of the most serious offenses under Pennsylvania law, according to the complaint.
The complaint further alleges the defendant recorded and possessed sexually explicit material, including filming herself performing sex acts on a child. In addition, the evidence shows that she took steps to conceal evidence and obstruct the investigation.
“This case represents … a level of depravity rarely seen. Filming the horrific, unspeakable, and appalling sexual abuse of (a child) demonstrates a complete lack of humanity,” Gallagher said in a news release. “The allegations are horrendous and reflect conduct that strikes at the very core of our responsibility to protect children in this community.”
Gallagher said his office worked in conjunction with law enforcement members of the Northeast Computer Crimes Unit and other investigators.