Police link Beaver County suspect to rape of 12-year-old, say phone held 2,500 child porn files
A 22-year-old man is in Beaver County Jail after investigators found thousands of child pornography files on his phone and linked him to the rape of a 12-year-old girl.
NEW BRIGHTON, Pa. —
A 22-year-old man is facing 100 charges after investigators said they found thousands of child pornography files on his phone and linked him to the rape of a 12-year-old girl.
Luke Poteete is now in the Beaver County Jail after investigators said they discovered more than 2,500 images and videos of child pornography on his phone. According to authorities, the children depicted ranged in age from 2 to 10 years old.
The charges stem from a warrant executed during another investigation in which police said Poteete raped a 12-year-old girl.
According to the criminal complaint, the 12-year-old came forward in September 2025, stating the assault occurred in May of that year. She said she knew Poteete as a Geneva College student who had been sitting in on classes at New Brighton Middle School in 2024.
The girl alleged that Poteete bought alcohol for her and her friend before raping her in the back of a car.
Poteete was arrested and charged with several felonies, including rape of a child.
The superintendent of the New Brighton School District, Dr. Joseph Guarino issued a statement, saying in part, “We are aware of the charges and can confirm that we have fully cooperated and provided information to those agencies conducting the investigation.”
Statement from Geneva College:
“We are providing this update regarding Luke Poteete, a former Geneva student, who is the subject of recent legal filings.
Luke has not been a student at Geneva College since the Fall 2025 semester. While we recognize this news may lead to additional questions, federal law under FERPA strictly prohibits us from commenting on the specifics of any student’s personal or educational records.
As an institution, we remain committed to campus safety and the integrity of our community values. We will cooperate with any law enforcement inquiries we may receive.”