Delco Agents Bust 'Dirty Old Santa' Seeking Sex With Teen: DA

RIDLEY, PA – A Philadelphia man who called himself "dirty old Santa" and worked seasonally at Macy's in Philadelphia was arrested June 21 in Ridley Township after allegedly attempting to lure who he thought was a 14-year-old girl into sex, according to Delaware County District Attorney Jack Whelan.

William T. McKinlay, 56, of Philadelphia, has been charged with first degree felony charges including criminal use of a communications facility, attempted statutory sexual assault and solicitation, and attempted involuntary indecent sexual intercourse, according to Whelan's office.

The arrest and charges come after an undercover investigation by the Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division (CID) Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) and Ridley Township Police Department, Whelan's office said.

According to Whelan's office, Officer Tim Kearney of the Ridley Township Police Department was acting in an undercover capacity on an investigation for the Pennsylvania ICAC Task Force on April 12.

Posing as a 14-year-old girl named "Stephanie," Kearney responded to an internet advertisement posted on a website titled, "young uns – m4w (NE)," Whelan's office said.

After responding to the ad, McKinlay and "Stephanie" began exchanging messages during which "Stephanie" confirmed she was 14-years-old, according to Whelan's office.

After learning her age, McKinlay began having sexually explicit conversations with "Stephanie," Whelan's office alleges.

During the course of a month, the McKinlay explained to "Stephanie" how to masturbate and ordered her to do "homework" which involved learning how to masturbate herself and provide graphic detail to McKinlay, Whelan's office said. During one conversation, McKinlay sent a picture with his hand spread across his mouth, sticking his tongue through his fingers, telling "Stephanie" that the fingers are her legs and his tongue is so he can perform oral sex on her, according to Whelan's office. He also sent graphic pictures and referred to himself as "dirty old Santa," Whelan's office alleges.

McKinlay described how he would love to see "Stephanie" naked and teach her about sex, Whelan's office said.

On June 12, they began discussing meeting up in person, and two days later, it was confirmed they would meet at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, June 21 at an ice cream store in Ridley Township. He told her it would help if she didn’t wear many clothes in the first place, and told her to wear a sleeveless t-shirt, shorts, sneakers and nothing else.

But on June 21 when McKinlay thought he was going to meet 14-year-old Stephanie, he instead met Kearney and a slew of county and township law enforcement members, Whelan's office said.

McKinlay was taken into custody without incident and remanded to the Delaware County Prison after failing to post ten percent of $250,000 bail.

His preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 10.

Investigators learned that McKinlay held himself out as Santa and confirmed that he was a seasonal employee at Macy’s in Philadelphia although his exact position could not be confirmed.

"I would like to commend Officer Tim Kearney and Officer Leo Doyle of Ridley Township Police, CID Det. Edmond J. Pisani, Jr. and Det. Sgt. Kenneth Bellis for their swift action to apprehend the defendant without incident," Whelan said of the arrest and charges. "The allegations against McKinlay are a reminder to parents of the need to be vigilant in protecting children from those who relentlessly prey upon them on the internet."

Image via Delaware County District Attorney's Office