Lewistown man jailed on charges involving minor
Police allege sexual online conversations
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LEWISTOWN -- A Lewistown man was jailed Thursday after police alleged he engaged in sexually explicit online conversations with a person he believed was a 14-year-old boy.
Richard Lynn, 53, faces two felony charges and a misdemeanor following an investigation by Granville Township Police Department. Court records show Lynn is charged with felony attempted corruption of minors, felony criminal use of a communication facility and misdemeanor attempted corruption of minors.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, police obtained messages between Lynn and a person using the name "Chaz" on the dating app Taimi and through text messages. The person was presented to Lynn as a 14-year-old boy.
Police allege Lynn continued communicating after being told the person was 14 and that portions of the conversation became sexual in nature. The affidavit alleges Lynn also discussed meeting "Chaz" if he came to Lewistown.
According to court documents, the communications occurred between Aug. 5 and Aug. 11.
Police contacted Lynn by phone Aug. 12 and requested that he come to the police station, according to the affidavit.
Investigators interviewed Lynn Aug. 14 after advising him of his Miranda rights. Police said Lynn acknowledged communicating with "Chaz" and said the person had disclosed being 14.
According to the affidavit, Lynn told police he initially intended to end the conversation after learning the person was not 18 but continued communicating after "Chaz" wanted to remain friends. Police allege Lynn acknowledged saying inappropriate things during the conversation that were sexual in nature.
Police said Lynn showed investigators his phone. The original conversation on the dating app was no longer present because "Chaz" had blocked him, according to the affidavit. Investigators said they photographed remaining text messages on Lynn's phone and compared them with messages previously provided to police.
Charges were filed Thursday before Magisterial District Judge Craig A. Weston. Bail was set at $50,000 monetary, and Lynn was committed to the Mifflin County Correctional Facility after being unable to post bail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday before Weston.