HARRISBURG — Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced charges against three Westmoreland County men for unlawful contact with minors this week in separate cases brought by the Office of Attorney General’s Child Predator Section in southwestern Pennsylvania.
“Our Child Predator Section works tirelessly to identify and remove child predators from our streets and our communities,” Attorney General Shapiro said. “We have a zero tolerance policy for the sexual abuse of children in the Office of Attorney General.”
Timothy Myers, 32, of Longs Road, Latrobe, was arrested Wednesday after soliciting sex from an undercover agent posing as a 14-year-old boy on a social networking site. After acknowledging that he understood the undercover agent was a minor, Myers propositioned him and arranged to meet. Myers was taken into custody after arriving at the meeting location – known only to the undercover agent and Myers.
Myers told investigators after his arrest he was a youth pastor. While Myers’ claim of being a pastor does not appear to be accurate, agents with the Child Predator Section are continuing to investigate his background and exposure to other potential victims. Anyone with information about Myers can call OAG’s Child Predator Hotline at 1-800-385-1044.
In the second case, Brian Zupancic, 27, of 1st Street, Jeannette, was arrested Tuesday. Zupanic also used the Internet to connect with an undercover agent posing as a minor. After the agent communicated he was 14, Zupancic solicited the agent for sex and identified a meeting location. Zupancic said he would be driving a grey Kia. Agents with the Child Predator Section and local police took Zupancic into custody after he arrived at the meeting location in the Kia.
In the third case, Harold Enriquez, 33, of Dornin Street, Greensburg, was arrested Tuesday after soliciting sex from an undercover agent posing online as a 14-year-old boy. The undercover agent confirmed Enriquez understood he was a minor. Enriquez solicited the agent for photographs, propositioned him, and arranged to meet. Enriquez was taken into custody by agents at the designated meeting place.
Attorney General Shapiro thanked several law enforcement agencies for their work on the cases. “The Greensburg police and Pennsylvania State Police, Greensburg barracks, were helpful with these child predator investigations. Law enforcement cooperation helps makes our communities safer.”
The three defendants were charged with unlawful contact with minors and attempts to commit involuntary deviant sexual intercourse. Bail was set at $50,000 cash for Myers and Zupancic and $15,000 cash for Enriquez. Preliminary hearings for the three men are scheduled for July 7 before Magisterial District Judge Mark Mansour.
Suspected child predators can be reported by calling the Child Predator Hotline at 1-800-385-1044. Individuals who suspect an online predator or abuse can send anonymous tips by texting PAKIDS + YOUR TIP to 847411.
