Charter School Piano Repairman Arrested In Online Sex Sting
EXPORT (KDKA) -- Police say 62-year-old Theodore Mamel, of Export, took out an ad on Craigslist seeking girls who wanted to try taboo sex. The ad allegedly said age was no barrier.
That was enough to catch the attention of vice officers and who began communicating with Mamel.
"He believed that he was talking with a 14-year-old female. He wasn't," said Southwest Regional Police Chief John Hartman. "He was talking to us. Communications continued, and he eventually had asked for a meeting."
According to police, the charter school piano repairman would go online using Wi-Fi connections at area businesses like Lowe's and McDonald's, thinking he couldn't be traced, to chat online with who he thought was an underage girl.
According to the complaint, in his online communications, he said: "I am old enough to be your grandfather."
He also sent pornographic pictures, investigators said.
"We had recovered a computer, and we were getting a warrant for the computer. He had admitted there was other child pornography in that computer," said Chief Hartman.
According to the complaint, Mamel wrote "Those girls are close to your age, some are younger."
Earlier this week, the two communicated again about meeting.
The complaint says the girl told Mamel: "I only have school until noon on Wednesday." The meeting was set.
Just before his arrest, the suspect was picked up at a local Walmart, allegedly using the Wi-Fi. But police say he was actually taken into custody at a nearby house that was supposed to be that of the 14-year-old girl.
"I asked him, 'Were you there to meet a girl?' And his response to me was, 'Can I borrow your gun?' And I said, 'Why?' And he said, 'So I can shoot myself,'" said Chief Hartman.
Mamel was arrested and police are investigating to determine if any other children have been approached.
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