Blaise N. Diehl, of Lancaster. (Credit: Warrington Police)
Authorities said Blaise Nathaniel Diehl was nabbed in a sting involving an online predator group uploaded to YouTube.
A Lancaster man has turned himself in to authorities on five felonies – including child sexual abuse of children and attempted statutory sexual assault – following a two-month investigation by Warrington Township Police, with the aid of an online sexual predator group.
Blaise Nathaniel Diehl, 40, also faces charges of criminal attempted involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, criminal attempt aggravated indecent assault, and criminal use of a communication device, according to police. The sexual abuse of children charge is related to the defendant allegedly possessing child sexual abuse material, according to state law.
On Sept. 17, Warrington Police were notified that Diehl traveled from Lancaster to Warrington to meet with what he thought was a 13-year-old girl at the Hampton Inn Doylestown at 1570 Easton Roadd, authorities allege. In reality, the “girl” was fake and part of an operation by an online sexual predator group, police said.
During an on-scene investigation, several electronic devices were seized, as authorities believed child sexual abusive material was on them, police said. Search warrants were obtained for the devices, with at least one containing such material, police said.
After a two-month investigation, charges were filed against Diehl, police said.
Diehl was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Stacy Wertman, who set bail at $100,000 cash, according to court records, sending him to Bucks County jail.
According to Pennsylvania court records, Diehl received five years’ probation in November 2021 for pleading guilty to his second DUI in York County.
Diehl has a criminal record dating back to 2003 across numerous counties. For instance, he was convicted and jailed for DUI in Cumberland County in 2013 and again in York County in 2008, pled guilty to assault in Franklin County in 2014, got probation in 2008 in Union County for harassment and disorderly conduct, and served one month probation for pleading guilty to theft in 2003 in York County.
Warrington Police said parents, children and teens should be aware of the dangers lurking on the internet. For more resources, visit the NetSmartz collection of videos and resources offered by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
