POLICE: NJ man traveled to Pennsylvania in attempt to meet teen for sex
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — A New Jersey man is facing charges after he allegedly made plans to meet what he thought was a 15-year-old girl for sex.
Cristian Garcia, 30, of Lincoln Park, is facing felony charges after he allegedly sent explicit messages to a predator hunter group, believing that he was talking to a minor, according to a criminal complaint. On March 6, officers from the Brookville Borough Police Department were contacted by 814 Pred Hunters about a man who had made plans to come to Pennsylvania to meet with a teen for sex.
Cambria County man accused of inappropriately messaging minors on Snapchat
The group had been using a decoy profile of a teen girl on dating apps when Garcia reached out. According to the text messages, the decoy immediately told him she was underage, and Garcia allegedly admitted to wanting to have sex with the teen but told her they'd have to wait until she was 16 'for legal reasons.'
Between Feb. 25 and March 7, Garcia continued to text the teen inappropriately and continued to tell her that he wanted to sleep with her. He then made plans to pick up the teen at a Sheetz in Brookville and take her to New York, where he said they'd have intercourse, according to the affidavit.
Officers arrived at the scheduled meeting time and arrested Garcia.
He's in the Jefferson County Prison with bail set at $80,000. Garcia is facing felony charges of statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault, corruption of minors and criminal use of a communication facility. He's also facing misdemeanor charges of indecent assault of a person less than 16 and furnishing liquor to minors.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 24.
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