Pittsburgh Man Nabbed In Preteen Child Sex Sting

PITTSBURGH, PA — Charges have been filed against a Pittsburgh man who allegedly used an online chat platform to try to solicit a sexual encounter with a preteen girl.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced that Eric T. Gillespie, 57, is charged with four felonies, including multiple counts of unlawful contact with a minor. At arraignment, a magisterial district judge denied bail, citing flight risk and public safety concerns.

An Attorney General's Office agent posed as an adult in an online chat platform often utilized by offenders attempting to arrange meetings with children, and engaged in a conversation with Gillespie. Gillespie then made attempts to arrange a meeting with a preteenage girl (in Lebanon County).

“Our Child Predator Section proactively uncovered this defendant who, under an online pseudonym, was lurking online to access children,” Sunday said in a statement. “This case is yet another example of the dangers that exist online in anonymous chat platforms and other communication venues.”

The Attorney General's Office was assisted in the investigation by the Lebanon County District Attorney’s Office.

During the investigation, Gillespie alluded to methods he accessed children, and other evidence was found regarding contact with children.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information they feel law enforcement should be aware of is encouraged to contact the Office of Attorney General at 800-385-1044 and ask for Agent Roby.