10 Charged By State in Child Sex Sting Operation

By Submitted Report
The Tube City Almanac
November 30, 2016
Posted in: Crime and Police News

Ten men, including three from the Mon Valley, were arrested by the state Attorney General's Office and accused of attempting to solicit children for sex.

The arrests were announced this morning by state Attorney General Bruce Beemer in what he dubbed "Operation e-Traffic."

The investigation was conducted by the Attorney General's Child Predator Section and McKeesport police, with assistance from Bethel Park police.

The defendants charged reside in Allegheny, Beaver and Erie counties.

"These arrests should serve as a reminder that child predators are increasingly turning to the Internet to seek out children in our communities," said Beemer, who thanked city police for their assistance.

Adults who want to lure children into sexual relationships will first try to gain the trust of victims, Beemer said.

"That knowledge led us to design this proactive investigation," he said, which included using investigators to monitor traffic on websites and, in some cases, assume the identities of children to root out sexual predators.

Although state investigators claim that each of the suspects made attempts to lure children into sexual activity, no children were harmed, according to the complaints.

Local residents arrested in the sweep were:

Darius Lumpkin, 22, of McKeesport, is charged by the state with unlawful contact with a minor, criminal use of a communication facility, and criminal attempt to commit involuntary deviate sexual intercourse.

According to investigators, Lumpkin sent sexually explicit messages to someone he believed to be a 14-year-old boy. The person was actually an undercover agent with the Child Predator Section.

Lumpkin arranged an in-person meeting, and was arrested. At a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Eugene F. Riazzi Jr., Lumpkin waived the charges to court. He is being held in the Allegheny County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bond pending formal arraignment Jan. 20 in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court.

Gary S. Mesina, 48, of West Mifflin, is charged by the state with unlawful contact with a minor, criminal attempt to commit involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, criminal attempt to commit indecent assault of a person less than 13 years of age and criminal use of a communication facility.

The state alleges that Mesina responded to an online advertisement and sent sexually explicit messages to a person he believed to be a 14-year-old girl. This person was actually an undercover agent with the Child Predator Section, the AG's office said.

He allegedly set up a meeting for the purpose of having sexual contact with the child, the AG's office said, but instead was taken into custody when he arrived.

Mesina is free on $50,000 bond pending a preliminary hearing at 1 p.m. Jan. 9 before Magisterial District Judge Eugene F. Riazzi Jr.

Larry V. Teck Jr., 36, of Versailles, is charged by the state with unlawful contact with a minor, criminal attempt to commit involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, criminal attempt to commit indecent assault of a person less than 13 years of age and criminal use of a communication facility.

State investigators allege Teck sent sexually explicit electronic messages to a person he believed to be a 14-year-old boy. The person was actually an undercover agent with the Child Predator Section, investigators said. He later arranged a meeting for the purpose of having sexual contact with the purported minor, but instead was arrested when he arrived at the meeting location.

Teck was arrested when he arrived at a predetermined meeting location. At a preliminary hearing before Riazzi, Teck waived the charges to court. He is being held in the Allegheny County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bond pending formal arraignment Jan. 20 in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court.

Also arrested were:

• Scott P. Andrew, 36, of Pittsburgh's South Side, charged with unlawful contact with a minor and criminal attempt-dissemination of explicit material to minors, as well as criminal use of a communication facility. Andrew was released from custody after a bondsman posted a surety bond on his behalf. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 5.
  
  
• Christian Beebe, 31, of Pittsburgh's North Side, charged with unlawful contact with a minor, criminal attempt to commit involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, criminal attempt to commit indecent assault of a person less than 16 years of age and criminal use of a communication facility. Beebe was released from custody after posting $50,000 bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 19.
  
  
• Eric D. Birdwell, 44, of Girard, Erie County, charged with unlawful contact with a minor and criminal attempt-dissemination of explicit material to minors, as well as criminal use of a communication facility. Birdwell is free on his own recognizance pending a preliminary hearing Jan. 30.
  
  
• Arthur J. Klein, 70, of Freedom, Beaver County, charged with unlawful contact with a minor, criminal attempt to commit involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, criminal attempt to commit indecent assault of a person less than 13 years of age and criminal use of a communication facility. Klein has been released from custody. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 9.
  
  
• Dan Menozzi, 59, of Bethel Park, charged with unlawful contact with a minor and criminal attempt-dissemination of explicit material to minors, as well as criminal use of a communication facility. Menozzi is being held in lieu of $25,000 bail in the Allegheny County Jail pending a preliminary hearing Dec. 5.
  
  
• Neil A. Stromberg, 33, of Brentwood, Allegheny County, charged with unlawful contact with a minor, criminal attempt to commit involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, criminal attempt to commit indecent assault of a person less than 16 years of age and criminal use of a communication facility. He is being held in lieu of $10,000 bail in the Allegheny County Jail pending formal arraignment.
  
  
• Stephen Washlaski, 56, of Oakmont, charged with unlawful contact with a minor and criminal attempt-dissemination of explicit material to minors, as well as criminal use of a communication facility. According to investigators, Washlaski used electronic communications to solicit a mother for sexual contact with her daughters, who were purportedly 14 and 10 years old. The mother and daughters were actually an agent with the Child Predator Section working in an undercover capacity. The state also alleges that Washlaski also sent suspected pornography to this person. Washlaski is free on $5,000 percentage bond pending a preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 11.

Originally published November 30, 2016.

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