Texas Man Arrested For Trying To Meet 10-Yr-Old For Sex
Follow CBSDFW.COM: Facebook | Twitter
HARRISBURG, PA (CBSDFW.COM) - A Texas man has been arrested in Pennsylvania for trying to set up a meeting for sex with a 10-year-old girl and her mother.
Ray W. Howland, 55, of Arlington, was arrested Friday in Moon Township when he discovered the "mother" and "daughter" pair he had met online was actually an undercover agent for the Attorney General's Child Predator Section.
Prosecutors say Howland advertised online that he was "looking for a family or a couple of girls" to engage in sexual relations and that he planned to visit Pennsylvania for a business trip. He later tried to set up a meeting through the mother through email and text messages and described through email and text messages the sex acts he wanted to engage in with the 10-year-old girl.
Howland is charged with one count of attempting to commit rape of a child, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, unlawful contact with a minor, criminal attempt to commit indecent assault and criminal use of a communication facility.
Howland's bail has been set at 150,000 and he is being held in the Allegheny County Jail, with a preliminary hearing set for July 7.
Investigators are trying to figure out if Howland planned to meet any other families in the area.
American Airlines confirms Howland is an employee and released this statement:
"American Airlines holds its employees to the highest level of ethical standards. Employees who violate these standards are subject to disciplinary action, which may include immediate termination. We are cooperating fully with law enforcement and do not intend to comment on this case publicly out of respect for all involved."
(©2015 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)