Punxsutawney Borough Police have filed charges against a Tennessee man after he reportedly traveled to Pennsylvania in an attempt to meet with whom he believed to be a teenage girl.
Police say officers were contacted by members of the online group 814 Pred Hunters to report that they had been posing as a 15-year-old girl and had been in contact with 67-year-old Arnold Brown, of Mohawk, TN.
Investigators say Brown allegedly sent numerous sexually explicit messages to the “teen” and also demanded that she send him nude photos in return.
Police say late last week, Brown reportedly contacted the “teen” and told her to meet him “for sex” at the Cobblestone Hotel in Young Township, Jefferson County.
Authorities say Brown also told the “teen” that he intended to take her back to Tennessee because he wanted to allegedly give her a better life.
Police say Brown was later confronted by officers, and members of the group, at a local fast-food restaurant where he was taken into custody.
Authorities say when he was questioned about the messages he reportedly told officers “it is what it is.”
“I messed up and I’m sorry,” Brown reportedly added.
Police note that after he was taken into custody, an employee at the hotel reportedly checked on his room where they found a bouquet of roses, chips, candy, gum and mints inside.
According to online court records, Brown was arraigned over the weekend on various charges including attempted corruption of minors, attempted indecent assault and attempted unlawful contact.
He is being held at the Jefferson County Jail on $75,000 bail.
