BROOKVILLE, Pa. (EYT) – A Cleveland truck driver faces multiple felony charges after allegedly attempting to meet someone he believed was a 15-year-old girl for sex, according to the Brookville Borough Police Department.
Court documents indicate that 40-year-old John Robert Touhey was arrested on Thursday, January 23, 2025, at a Brookville truck stop following an investigation by local police and a citizen watchdog group.
Brookville Police Officer Bryce Rafferty said Touhey had arranged the meeting through online messages on the Telegram platform.
According to a criminal complaint, members of “814 Pred Hunters,” a Clearfield County-based citizens group, posed as a teenage girl and communicated with Touhey from January 3, 2025, through January 23, 2025. Police say Touhey continued explicit sexual messaging after being told the supposed girl was 15 years old.
Chief Vincent Markle initiated the investigation after being contacted by 814 Pred Hunters. Police monitored the arranged meeting at the Flying J Truck Stop, where Touhey was seen walking across the parking lot carrying a black bookbag before his arrest, according to the complaint.
Touhey, who was identified through his commercial driver’s license, faces the following charges:
– Statutory Sexual Assault: 11 Years Older, Felony 1
– IDSI Person Less Than 16 Yrs Age, Felony 1
– Aggravated Indecent Assault — Complainant Suffers Mental Disorder, Felony 2
– Corruption Of Minors — Defendant Age 18 or Above, Felony 3
– Criminal Use Of Communication Facility, Felony 3
– Indecent Assault Person Less 16 Yrs Age, Misdemeanor 2
He was arraigned before District Judge Gregory M. Bazylak on January 23 and committed to Jefferson County Jail after failing to post $100,000.00 monetary bail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for January 31, at 9:30 a.m., with Judge Bazylak presiding.
EDITOR’S NOTE 1: Extreme graphic details were not included due to the sexual nature of the alleged crimes.
