CENTRE COUNTY – A long-time area news journalist has been accused of trying to have a sexual relationship with an undercover agent posing as a teen girl.
Christopher Z. Morelli, 54, of Pleasant Gap was arrested Wednesday by Spring Township police on charges of unlawful contact with a minor-sexual offenses and criminal use of communication facility.
The charges stem from an investigation initially handled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force Pittsburgh.
But, due to Morelli’s location, it was transferred in September of 2023 to the FBI’s State College office, which requested the assistance of Spring Township police.
The criminal complaint details how Morelli began having communications in late July of 2022 with the agent whom he believed was a 14-year-old girl.
He conversed about living near Penn State and his career in journalism, as well as her possible future attendance of the university, reportedly commenting: “then, you will be legal lol.”
In messages with the agent over July 27-28, 2022, he reportedly admitted to having obtained sexual photos of young women in the past but claimed “you are the youngest I’ve talked to.”
Days later investigators say Morelli began asking to hang out, even offering to buy her “sexy” outfits to “model” for him in a hotel room “photo shoot” he desired for her to do.
Over a period of several months, Morelli allegedly made repeated attempts to arrange meetings for sexual relations; provided indecent images of himself; and solicited images for his sexual gratification.
Social media and text-message communications between Morelli and the agent occurred through December of 2023, according to the criminal complaint.
Unable to post $250,000 bail, Morelli has been incarcerated at Centre County Prison with a preliminary hearing scheduled for Jan. 3, 2024 before Magisterial District Judge Gregory M. Koehle.