A former legislative aide is accused of sexually propositioning a 15-year-old Harrisburg boy through Internet chats, including discussions about dressing up in animal costumes and engaging in various sex acts with the boy, state Attorney General Tom Corbett announced today.

Alan David Berlin, 40, recently a legislative aide to state Sen. Jane Clare Orie, R-Allegheny, used the Internet screen name, "alan_panda_bear," to chat with the boy in April and May, Corbett said. At one point during the chats, Berlin proposed traveling to the boy's home and having sex with him in the backyard while his parents were sleeping, Corbett said.

Berlin also requested nude photos of the boy and offered to get a hotel room if he could take pictures of the boy and another adult having sex, according to court papers. The boy's parents became concerned after discovering sexually graphic messages on their son's computer and contacted the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit, which began an investigation Tuesday, Corbett said.

Berlin was arrested Thursday in Carlisle by agents from the Child Predator Unit, who were assisted by officers from the Carlisle and North Middleton Township police departments. He has been suspended without pay and benefits indefinitely, Orie's chief counsel, Mike Sarfert, said.

Berlin was charged with unlawful contact with a minor, criminal attempted sexual exploitation of children, criminal solicitation to commit sexual abuse of children and criminal use of a computer. He was arraigned before District Judge George A. Zozos and taken to Dauphin County Prison in lieu of $250,000 bail.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday before District Judge William C. Wenner.