Montco Man Sentenced; Tried To Lure Underage Girl From Instagram

ROCKLEDGE, PA — A Rockledge man has been sentenced after authorities said he tried to have sex with an underage girl he met on Instagram.

Anthony Cheathem, 36, tried to lure a 15-year-old girl into sexual acts through messages over the social media platform, authorities said.

He was convicted of statutory sexual assault and sentenced recently to four to eight years behind bars and 12 years of probation, according to court documents.

Cheathem allegedly sent the young girl messages on Instagram in early 2018 which "complimented her photos" and included his cell phone number, the DA said. The victim then showed the messages to an adult, who began a conversation with Cheathem while pretending to be the girl, police said.

The conversation quickly became sexual and explicit, with Cheathem asking her if she'd ever had sex or performed numerous sex acts, or if she wanted to have sex with him. He also sent her a picture of his penis, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

On July 2, the victim went to police, where a detective logged into the victim's account and continued the conversation with Cheathem. The detective, pretending to be the girl, repeatedly stated that she was only 15, but that did not dissuade Cheathem from agreeing to meet up with her at the Wendy's at 733 Huntingdon Pike in Abington, according to the affidavit.

Police met Cheathem there and arrested him.