A Westmoreland County Bible study teacher is the latest person accused of trying to meet for sex with a person he thought was a teenage boy, police say.
Timothy Michael Myers, 32, of Latrobe, is the third person to be arrested in two days, accused of trying to meet with an undercover agent posing as a 14-year-old boy.
Myers is accused of exchanging sexual messages with the undercover agent, and then showing up to try and meet the person for sex.
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Myers volunteered at a Greensburg church where he worked with children and taught a Bible study class within the past month.
He was arrested Wednesday evening after agents said he showed up at a Hempfield Township hotel thinking he was meet with a 14-year-old boy.
Agents were waiting for him when he arrived and, when questioned by investigators, Myers allegedly told them, "I hadn't made up my mind if I was going to have sex with him, but I was prepared."
The agent who posed as a boy online said the conversation began on a social networking app.
Myers is not facing charges for anything pertaining to the Bible study class or the church. The church's pastor said Myers was not on the staff of the church and served only as a volunteer. The pastor said Myers was never left alone with children, and the church works to provide a safe environment for everyone.
The pastor added that Myers' attendance and volunteerism is no different than anyone else's at the church, and he is not credentialed or on staff in any capacity.
Police said Myers admitted to what happened and gave them a written statement.
The day before his arrest, police arrested two other men who are suspects in the same undercover sting.
Attorney General Josh Shapiro released the following statement:
“Our Child Predator Section works tirelessly to identify and remove child predators from our streets and our communities,” Shapiro said. “We have a zero tolerance policy for the sexual abuse of children in the office of attorney general.”
"Timothy Myers, 32, of Longs Road, Latrobe, was arrested Wednesday after soliciting sex from an undercover agent posing as a 14-year-old boy on a social networking site. After acknowledging that he understood the undercover agent was a minor, Myers propositioned him and arranged to meet. Myers was taken into custody after arriving at the meeting location – known only to the undercover agent and Myers.
"Myers told investigators after his arrest he was a youth pastor. While Myers’ claim of being a pastor does not appear to be accurate, agents with the Child Predator Section are continuing to investigate his background and exposure to other potential victims. Anyone with information about Myers can call OAG’s Child Predator Hotline at 1-800-385-1044."