Crime & Safety
Lafayette Hill Man Tried To Sexually Exploit Child Online; Pleads Guilty
On multiple occasions, Straff described to an undercover detective the specific sex acts he wished to perform on a 14-year-old female.
A Lafayette Hill man has pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Court after police caught him describing the sexual acts he planned on performing on a 14-year-old girl, according to the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office.
Michael Straff, 59, pleaded guilty to charges of felony criminal attempt at involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, according to court documents.
In April 2016, Straff posted an online advertisement soliciting minors, which was responded to by an undercover detective with the East Norriton Police Department, the DA said.
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For 13 days, the undercover officer posed at the 14-year-old girl and repeatedly engaged in conversation with Straff. Straff specifically described the sex acts he wanted to perform on the "girl," according to the DA.
Eventually, Straff emailed a picture of his genitalia and set up a meeting for what he believed would be a sexual encounter, the DA said.
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A meeting was set up for 6:30 p.m. on April 14 at 100 W. Germantown Pike. Straff showed up promptly at 6:28 and was arrested, according to the DA.
Straff faces between 13.5 and 27 years in prison.
Image via Montgomery County District Attorney's Office
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