According to court documents, Shane Michael Phillips, 25, was charged on June 17, 2026, by Blythe Township Police with felony counts of attempted statutory sexual assault and attempted unlawful contact with a minor, along with additional charges including attempted criminal use of a communication facility, attempted corruption of minors, attempted indecent exposure, and attempted indecent assault.
Police said the investigation began on April 6 after they received information from Brian Knepp, CEO of 814 Pred Hunter, regarding communications allegedly involving Phillips and one of the organization's decoys posing as a 14-year-old girl. According to the affidavit, the decoy used the name "Nikki" on Facebook Dating. Authorities allege Phillips initiated contact and later moved the conversation to text messaging.
Investigators allege that during conversations that began in July 2025 and continued into April 2026, Phillips engaged in sexually explicit discussions and sent explicit images and videos. According to the affidavit, the person posing as "Nikki" informed Phillips she was nearly 15 years old, and authorities allege he acknowledged the girl's age and discussed ways to conceal it from others.
Police allege Phillips repeatedly discussed meeting in person. On April 6, an arrangement was made for a meeting near the Middleport Fire Station on Washington Street. Court documents state that Brian Knepp drove to the location and observed Phillips arrive. When confronted, investigators allege Phillips claimed he was there to meet his 19-year-old girlfriend, but later admitted he believed "Nikki" was 14 years old.
Based on the investigation, police filed six charges against Phillips. Phillips was arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker on June 17th, 2027, where bail was set at $100,000 monetary bail, which court records indicate he was unable to post. He remains confined in Schuylkill County Prison.
Phillips is scheduled to appear before Magisterial District Judge Edward M. Lewis for a preliminary hearing on July 7, 2026.