Local Man In Court, Accused Of Offering To Pay Minor For Sex
UNIONTOWN (KDKA) – A Pittsburgh man was in court Friday, after police say he tried to pay a minor to have sex with him.
Accompanied by his attorney, 38-year-old Robert Shaffer of the Point Breeze section of Pittsburgh had little to say going into his preliminary hearing Friday.
Police say 38-year-old Robert Shaffer posted an ad online titled "Looking for a Younger Lover."
Logging on to Craigslist, investigators say Shaffer clicked on the personals looking for casual encounters.
"Ultimately, what we have here is an individual who made contact with a person he believed was a 14-year-old girl," said Chief John Hartman, of the Southwest Regional Police.
Police say Shaffer allegedly typed several explicit messages asking about the "girl's sexual experience" and what he wanted. He even offered the girl $100.
"Left no question in our mind why he wanted to meet with this girl," said Chief Hartman.
What he didn't know is he was communicating with an undercover officer.
"Last Friday, he came down from Belle Vernon to meet with the girl, that's when we made the arrest," Chief Hartman said.
After being cuffed, police say Shaffer told them, "I came down here to tell that girl she shouldn't be talking to guys like that on there."
Shaffer is charged with unlawful contact with a minor with the intent to solicit prostitution.
The chief says parents need to be more involved in who their kids contact on the Internet.
"They have to know where they are going, because their kids may be involved in something that's way over their heads," Chief Hartman said.
Shaffer remains free on $50,000 bond.
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