Aug 24, 2017 2 min read

A Lancaster man is facing two counts of unlawful contact with a minor after he reportedly made contact with a North Strabane Township police officer who was posing online as a 14-year-old girl.

Dale L. Musser, 70, was arraigned on the charges Wednesday before District Judge Jay Weller.

Officer Gary Scherer, who is a member of the Pennsylvania Internet Crimes Against Children task force, was monitoring a teen chatroom intended for those between the ages of 13 and 19. He assumed a decoy identity as a 14-year-old Canonsburg girl.

Last month, the decoy was contacted by a man later identified as Musser. He allegedly told the 14-year-old that he lived about three hours from Pittsburgh. He also allegedly conversed with her about her sexual experiences and talking to older men.

Musser reportedly continued the conversation in a private, password protected chatroom. Musser allegedly sent one-way videos. He also reportedly sent emails that contained sexual content. Scherer used the name on the email to get an address for Musser. Scherer was able to confirm his identity and obtain a search warrant for Musser’s internet address.

As a condition of his release, Musser was ordered by Weller to turn in his passport and told not to use the internet or have contact with minors. He is scheduled for an Oct. 10 hearing before Weller.