CENTRE COUNTY – A long-time area news journalist has been charged with additional crimes for his alleged inappropriate contact with a teen in 2011.
Christopher Z. Morelli, 54, of Pleasant Gap was charged Friday by Spring Township police with felony criminal solicitation-statutory sexual assault and corruption of minors.
Bail has been denied for “community safety” reasons, and Morelli is incarcerated at the Centre County Correctional Facility.
In December Morelli was arrested for allegedly trying to have a sexual relationship with an undercover FBI agent posing as a 14-year-old girl. Click here for more on his original case.
Following media reports of Morelli’s arrest, investigators say they were contacted by a female who stated she was victimized by Morelli in fall of 2011 when she was 14.
The affidavit notes Morelli would have been 42 years old at the time of their communications, and when the victim met with police Jan. 2, she turned over those Facebook messages received from Morelli.
The victim said she knew Morelli through her youth soccer team as he was one of its coaches. She reportedly went to his home in September 2011 where he gave her and a friend alcohol.
She said they were alone with Morelli and all went swimming together. Not long after the incident, she began to receive messages from Morelli on Facebook.
In messages from October of that same year, Morelli spoke of their time swimming but reportedly tells the victim he desires for her to return but alone this time.
He allegedly tells the girl if she ever skips school, she can come “hang out” again and “not to worry because he won’t tell.” At one point, Morelli confirms the victim’s age, 14, and responds: “so young.”
But, “Morelli continues to talk to the victim about sexual encounters … and goes into detail … about what he would like to do with her,” the affidavit states.
“[She] stops talking to Morelli after the conversations become even more inappropriate.” It notes that Morelli attempted to contact the victim on multiple occasions over the next few months.
Anyone with more information concerning Morelli is urged to contact Detective Luke Nelson of the Spring Township police at 814-355-5134.