A Minersville man is facing multiple felony charges after police allege he communicated online with someone he believed to be a 15-year-old girl before arranging to meet the purported juvenile in Minersville.
Richard John Wright, 43, was charged by the Minersville Police Department's Officer Michael Layton-Herron with felony counts of criminal solicitation to commit involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, unlawful contact with a minor, criminal use of a communication facility and corruption of minors. Court records show the alleged offenses occurred between July 13 and July 24.
According to an affidavit of probable cause, the investigation began after Minersville Police received information from the predator-catching group "Creep Cleaners." Investigators allege Wright initially contacted what he believed was a 15-year-old girl through an online dating platform before the conversation moved to text messaging.
Police allege the individual identified herself as being under the age of 16 early in the conversation. Despite that disclosure, investigators claim Wright continued communicating with the purported juvenile over the following days, allegedly attempting to arrange an in-person meeting and engaging in conversations that formed the basis for the criminal charges.
According to police, Wright arrived at a predetermined meeting location in Minersville on July 24, where he was taken into custody. Investigators also allege Wright consented to a search of his cellphone, which police say contained the text conversation referenced in the investigation.
Court records indicate Wright was arraigned early Saturday before Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer. Bail was set at $50,000 monetary, which he was unable to post. He remains incarcerated at Schuylkill County Prison pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for August 4 before Magisterial District Judge Edward M. Lewis.
Video of the sting below