He said parents should know that even if their children have no Web camera, they can still watch transmitted footage.

Cases of Web camera abuses on the Internet have risen from about 25 percent of the cases they handle to 75 percent, Frederiksen said.

Predators who travel to meet children have remained about steady, he said. Those who travel are charged with a higher-degree felony. He added that agents see Web camera behavior often escalate to arranging meetings or viewing child pornography.

Rev. McLaughlin had arranged a meeting with the undercover officer he’d been speaking to, but never showed up at the meeting, Frederiksen said.

The Child Predator Unit tries to get predators before they have contact with children, he said, although over the last three years there have been cases where they failed.

“And those disturb us greatly,” Frederiksen said.

Computers have been seized from both Rev. McGuigan and McLaughlin and will be searched for evidence in both cases and for other illegal activities, Frederiksen said.

McLaughlin was taken to Mercer County Jail. His bail was set at $50,000 and his preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday before District Judge Lawrence T. Silvis.

Rev. McGuigan was suspended by United Methodist Bishop Thomas Bickerton, who will lead services at the two Conneautville-area churches Rev. McGuigan pastored.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.