Lifetime Megan's Law Offender Charged In Bensalem: Police

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA —A lifetime Megan's Law offender has been charged after he showed up in Bensalem to have a sexual encounter with what he believed to be a 14-year-old boy, police said.

David Coles Sr., 76, of Wood Street in Bristol, was arrested at 10:15 a.m. Wednesday, March 1, the Bensalem Township Police Department said.

Police said Coles Sr. is a lifetime Megan’s Law offender who was convicted in 1997 of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and aggravated indecent assault per the Pennsylvania State Police Megan’s Law public website, police said.

In November 2022, Bensalem detectives were made aware of Coles Sr. because he posted an advertisement on a dating website. His profile stated that he was looking for a male to engage in oral sex.

Coles Sr. then engaged with what he believed to be a 14-year-old male from Bensalem in emails and text messages. During those messages, Coles Sr. expressed interest in meeting the juvenile for a sexual encounter.

The communication with the juvenile then tapered off, police said.

On Feb. 22, Coles initiated a conversation with what he believed to be a middle-school-aged boy on the Grindr application. During the conversation, Coles Sr. agreed to meet the juvenile, pick him up and take him to his apartment in Bristol.

Coles Sr. continually expressed interest in engaging in oral sex with the juvenile at his apartment.

Members of the Bensalem Police Criminal Investigations Unit and Special Investigation Unit were standing by as Coles Sr. arrived in Bensalem to meet for the sexual encounter with the alleged juvenile.

Police did not say where the meeting in Bensalem took place.

Coles Sr. was taken into custody, interviewed, and charged with unlawful contact with a minor, involuntary deviant sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault, corruption of minors, indecent assault, and criminal use of a communication facility.

He was arraigned by District Justice Joseph Falcone and was remanded to the Bucks County Correctional Facility in lieu of 10 percent of $10 Million bail.

Police believe it's possible that Coles Sr. has met juveniles in the past utilizing dating apps.

Anyone with information regarding David Coles Sr. should contact Detective Ryan Kolb at (215) 633-3746.