A local man is facing a trio of felonies after he allegedly attempted to meet a 14-year-old girl at the Montgomeryville Mall, only to discover it was actually a special agent with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.
Aaron Ross Smith, 22, of Chalfont, has been charged with felony counts of unlawful contact with a minor, criminal use of a communications facility and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a person less than 16 years of age, in connection with the investigation.
According to the criminal complaint, Smith allegedly began communicating online with what he believed was a 14 year old girl in January, eventually soliciting the girl for unlawful sexual activity and asking if they could “meet up.” Investigators then set up a meeting at the Montgomeryville Mall for the evening of Jan. 24.
At 6:45 p.m., Smith allegedly sent a photo of himself to investigators, stating “that’s what I’m wearing look for me.” He arrived to the scene several minutes later, and was immediately taken into custody, before being read his Miranda rights and taken to the Montgomery Township Police Department for questioning.
The complaint states that upon questioning, Smith waived his right to counsel and confessed that he was the one using the social media account. The complaint adds that Smith stated that he knew the girl was under the age of consent, yet he attempted to solicit oral and sexual intercourse. Investigators also allegedly found condoms while performing a search of Smith.
Smith was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Andrea Hudak Duffy on Jan. 25, who set bail at $200,000 cash. Smith was then remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility after failing to post bail.
His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 25 at 1:45 p.m. in front of Judge Hudak Duffy.
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