A joint law enforcement operation has disrupted what officials call an attempt by a convicted felon to travel across state lines to abuse a child.
Robert E. Kroh, 67, of Kelayres was arrested Tuesday following a search of his home. An investigation by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General’s Child Predator Section and the FBI revealed Kroh allegedly exchanged thousands of Snapchat messages with an FBI agent posing as a 12-year-old child.
According to a news release from the attorney general’s office, the FBI notified the state about Kroh’s online activities in late February. An undercover agent then posed as a pre-teen on Snapchat and engaged with Kroh.
Authorities say that after the online exchange continued over several months, Kroh made arrangements in May to meet the “child” in Connecticut.
The release said that the search of Kroh’s home uncovered child sexual abuse material (CSAM), authorities said, and he was arraigned on 14 felony charges, including unlawful contact with a child and possession of CSAM.
“This case shows what can be done when law enforcement works together and takes timely action to remove child predators from communities,” Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday said in a statement. “This 67-year-old man made it clear to who he thought was a pre-teenage child that he wanted to meet for sexual abuse, and had every intention of doing so.”
At the time of his arrest, Kroh was on state parole for a 2023 felony conviction for stealing “a large sum of money” from a church, the release said.
A magisterial district judge denied bail for Kroh to ensure his appearance at future court proceedings, the release said. The case is scheduled to be prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Mary Phillips.
