CLEARFIELD, Pa. — A Clarion man faces five felony charges for an alleged online relationship with a decoy he believed was a 15-year-old girl.
Curwensville Borough Police charged Seth James Bechtel, 31, with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with person less than 16 years old, unlawful contact with a minor, aggravated indecent assault, corruption of minors, and criminal use of communication facility on June 23.
Bechtel waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday during centralized court, sending the case to the Clearfield County Court of Common Pleas for further disposition. He remains in the county jail in lieu of $250,000 bail.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, the 814 Pred Hunters group provided police with messages that one of their decoys, posing as a 15-year-old girl, exchanged with Bechtel. The messages included discussions regarding kissing and sexual activity.
After the decoy asked him what they would do if they met in person, Bechtel allegedly wrote, “It all depends on what time I would have picked you up, but I would at least be trying to kiss you. We would definitely be kissing and probably having sex.”
His other messages contained similar scenarios ending with the two being intimate. At one point, he informed the decoy that he had purchased condoms.
The decoy arranged a meeting with Bechtel on June 23 at a store in Curwensville. Police located Bechtel inside the store and took him into custody. Investigators found two unopened condoms in his pocket, according to the report.
Bechtel declined to speak with authorities regarding the allegations.
