Crime & Safety
Man Busted For Trying To Meet 'Teen Girl' For Sex On Main Line
A Philadelphia man has been charged with corruption of minors, statutory sexual assault, and more charges after an undercover operation.
LOWER MERION TOWNSHIP, PA — A Philadelphia man is in custody after authorities said he tried to meet an underage girl who was actually a law enforcement officer for sex in Lower Merion Township.
Anthony Lewis Smith-Sturgis, 29, of Philadelphia, is charged with unlawful contact with a minor, statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a minor, corruption of a minor, and criminal use of a communication facility, court records show.
Smith-Sturgis was arrested in Lower Merion Township Police on Oct. 5.
Find out what's happening in Ardmore-Merion-Wynnewoodfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
According to Main Line Media News, Smith-Sturgis has been sending sexually explicit messages to what he believed was a 14-year-old girl, who was actually an undercover officer, on social media.
The outlet reports Smith-Sturgis told authorities he drove to Lower Merion Township to have a sexual encounter with the "girl."
Find out what's happening in Ardmore-Merion-Wynnewoodfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
He is being held on $10,000 bail and is scheduled for an Oct. 18 preliminary hearing, court records show.
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