HARRISBURG — Attorney General Josh Shapiro today announced the arrest of an Allegheny County bus driver on child predator charges. Todd Murray, 55, of McKeesport, was charged on Monday with unlawful contact with minors, corruption of minors, and other related felony charges for soliciting a child online for sexual activity and sending sexually explicit images.
Murray was employed as a part-time bus driver at Pennsylvania Coach Lines, Inc. His job at the charter company included driving minors and their coaches to sporting events, along with other services. According to the bus company, which has cooperated with law enforcement during the investigation, Murray’s last assignment was in early January 2019 and he will be terminated from his position immediately.
“My Office is continuing to do everything in its power to prevent child abuse and prosecute anyone who attempts to harm children,” said Attorney General Josh Shapiro. “The defendant had exposure to children through his work as a bus driver and was entrusted to keep them safe. Instead, he betrayed that trust and preyed on minors online. I’m grateful for the work of the Newberry Police and my agents to hold this predator accountable and ensure that he cannot harm any other children.”
In October 2018, Murray began having online communications with an undercover detective from the Newberry, Massachusetts Police Department who was posing as a 14-year-old female. The messages from the defendant quickly turned sexual, and Murray said he would have to take a road trip to Massachusetts to see the child for illicit sexual conduct. The defendant also sent two obscene images to the undercover detective.
Once the detective determined the defendant lived in Pennsylvania, the case was referred to the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. Agents from the Office of Attorney General arrested Murray on April 1. The criminal complaint was filed before Magisterial Judge Beth Mills in Allegheny County. Bail was set at $100,000 cash and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 10, 2019. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Jessel Costa.
Since Attorney General Shapiro took office in January 2017, the Office of Attorney General’s Child Predator Section has made 190 arrests, including 75 arrests in 2018. Anyone who has information about child predators should contact the Attorney General’s Child Predator Section at 1-800-385-1044.
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