Cops Catch Vampire 'Net Predator

Man Said To Have Used Vampire-Related Web Site To Lure Girls To Cemeteries

(AP)  A man who prosecutors say lured underage girls he met on a vampire-related Internet site to suburban cemeteries was ordered held on $350,000 bail after pleading not guilty to rape and sodomy charges.

Eric Fischer, 23, entered the plea at an arraignment Thursday on a 25-count indictment that included charges of third-degree rape, third-degree criminal sexual act and endangering the welfare of a child, said a spokeswoman for the Suffolk County district attorney's office.

He allegedly contacted his victims using a Gothic culture Web site called vampirefreaks.com and then arranged to meet them in Long Island cemeteries, prosecutors said.

Fischer was first arrested in March and charged with third-degree rape and third-degree criminal sex act for an incident involving a 16-year-old girl he met on the Web site, police said. A month later, Fisher was accused of luring someone he believed was a 13-year-old girl — but who turned out to be a detective in the Suffolk police computer crimes squad.

Suffolk Assistant District Attorney Julie Walsh said a further investigation uncovered five other victims, ranging in age from 14 to 16.

Fischer's attorney declined to comment.