Bensalem Man Sought Sex With 12-Year-Old: Police

BENSALEM, PA — A Bensalem man has been arrested on charges that he tried to arrange sex online with someone he believed to be a 12-year-old girl.

Keval Patel, 28, was arrested Wednesday on charges of sexual abuse of children, unlawful contact with a minor, dissemination of sexual material to minors and corruption of minors.

According to Bensalem Police, who were working with the FBI's Philadelphia office on a project targeting online sexual predators, agents made contact with Patel on the social-media app, Kik.

Through the app, Patel talked with an undercover officer, saying he wanted to have sex with a 12-year-old girl, according to police. They say he requested photos of the girl and sent the undercover officer a nude photograph of himself.

The investigation also revealed that Patel had engaged with other young girls, asking them for nude photographs and telling them to perform sex acts, police said.

Patel was arraigned Wednesday and released after posting 10% of $400,000 bail.

Police said the joint operation with the FBI began in January.

"Bensalem Police and the FBI use this proactive approach to identify, arrest and prosecute criminals like Patel before they get a chance to harm a child," police said in a written statement.

In the statement, police urged parents to check their children's cellphones on a regular basis.

Anyone with information in Patel's case, or other child exploitation cases, is asked to contact Bensalem Township Police at 215-633-3719.