Daniel Hackel, 23, was sentenced to between two and a half and seven years in state prison for trying to meet who he thought was a 15-year-old for sex in November.
LANCASTER, Pa. — A Lancaster man was sentenced to between two and a half to seven years in state prison after pleading guilty to trying to meet a minor for sex in a vigilante predator sting.
According to the Office of Lancaster County District Attorney Heather Adams, Daniel Hackel, 23, of North Duke Street, pleaded guilty to one count each of attempted statutory sexual assault and disseminating child sexual abuse material, 10 counts of possessing child sexual abuse material, two counts of criminal use of a communication facility and one count of attempted indecent assault of a person less than 16 years of age.
The Office of the DA said Hackel tried to meet who he thought was a 15-year-old girl for sex along the 100 block of North Queen Street on Nov. 9. Hackel arrived to find two vigilantes who were members of an anti-child predator nonprofit. They had been communicating with Hackel while posing as “Alexandra” for about a week, according to the Office of the DA.
While there have been successful examples, the Office of the DA discourages vigilante actions since they can pose risks to themselves and others.
Hackel reportedly admitted to police that he planned to have sex with “Alexandra” and even furnished alcohol and handcuffs.
The Office of the DA added that a forensic analysis of Hackel’s phone found more than 20 videos of children being sexually abused.
As part of the sentence, Hackel will be evaluated to determine if he is a sexually violent predator and must register with Megan’s Law for 25 years.
