Retired state trooper caught in teen sex sting

The state attorney general's child predator unit has charged a retired state trooper from Venango County with sexually propositioning a fictitious 13-year-old girl online and trying to meet her Monday in Canonsburg.

Lawrence W. McElroy, 61, of Cooperstown, was arrested in a sting set up by an undercover attorney general's agent and Canonsburg police.

In his car authorities found Viagra, lubricant and gifts he had allegedly promised to bring for the phantom girl, the attorney general's office said.

Mr. McElroy, who police say went by the online handle of "Iamtheone7890" in an Internet chat room, is charged with felony counts of unlawful contact with a minor and criminal use of a communication facility.

Mr. McElroy is a substitute teacher in Franklin, Venango County, and a former state police sergeant.

District Judge David W. Mark arraigned Mr. McElroy and set bail at $250,000.

Mr. McElroy is the third current or former police officer to be arrested since February by the child predator unit.

Ex-Bridgeville Officer James W. Radermacher, 48, was charged last week with propositioning who he believed to be 13- and 14-year-old girls. In February, Trooper Douglas N. Sversko, 43, of Lewisburg, Union County, was arrested for sending an undercover agent he thought was a teenage girl a racy video of himself.





First published on April 27, 2011 at 9:17 am