Lewistown police have charged Randy Moore with multiple felonies after he reportedly engaged with a decoy posing as a 13-year-old girl online.
MIFFLIN COUNTY, Pa. — Lewistown police say a local man is facing felony charges after allegedly communicating with what he believed was a 13-year-old girl online, but investigators also criticized the actions of a social media group that conducted its own predator sting and confrontation.
According to a release posted to the Lewistown Police Department’s Facebook, officers were contacted around 7:11 p.m. July 15 about a group confronting a purported child predator in the 500 block of Valley Street. Police said they told the subject in the video that they would not respond to the confrontation, citing guidance concerning citizen-led predator stings and their impact on criminal prosecutions.
Despite their criticism of the group’s methods, police said detectives pursued the allegations and consulted with the Mifflin County District Attorney’s Office on July 16. Investigators requested copies of the online communications but said the group did not provide the chat records until late July 17.
Moore voluntarily came to the police station on July 17 and agreed to an interview after waiving his Miranda rights, according to police. Investigators said Moore admitted he believed he had been communicating through a messaging application with a 13-year-old girl. He also consented to a search of his phone, which was later seized pending a forensic examination.
Police said their review of the chats showed Moore initially began communicating July 4 with a female decoy whose profile identified her as 19 years old. Investigators said the decoy later repeatedly told Moore she was 13.
According to police, Moore continued communicating with the decoy after learning her purported age, complimented photographs depicting a youthful female, sent photographs of himself and engaged in sexually explicit conversations. Investigators allege Moore sent an image of his penis, requested explicit photographs, discussed sexual activity and expressed concern about being arrested if he met the girl.
Police said Moore and the decoy ultimately agreed to meet on July 15.
Moore was taken into custody and lodged in the Mifflin County Correctional Facility. He was charged with criminal attempt to commit statutory sexual assault, criminal attempt to commit corruption of minors, criminal attempt to commit indecent assault and criminal use of a communication facility.
According to court documents, Moore has been charged with the following crimes:
- Statutory sexual assault
- Corruption of minors
- Criminal use of communication facility
- Indecent assault of person less than 16 years of age
In a the release, the department said private groups that pose as minors and publicly confront suspects often use police involvement to increase viewership and revenue on social media platforms. Investigators explained that these tactics can effectively invalidate legitimate criminal cases through edited videos, coerced statements and potential evidentiary issues.
Police said the group involved was advised to preserve any evidence while officers consulted prosecutors regarding applicable laws and the admissibility of evidence.
Police allege that members of the group then pressured Randy E. Moore, 32, of Lewistown, to accompany them to the police station after officers declined to respond to the scene. Investigators said the coercion reportedly included several men trespassing and threatening to contact Moore’s employer if he did not comply.
Officers made contact with Moore at the police station but declined to interview him at that time because of concerns any statements could later be suppressed in court, police said.
Investigators identified one member of the group as a 25-year-old YouTube content creator from Texas who had been involved in a similar Lewistown investigation in October 2025. Police said officers had previously advised the individual not to confront suspects directly and had encouraged him to turn evidence over to law enforcement. According to the department, the same guidance was not followed in the July 15 incident.
Police also said the group repeatedly called 911 and the department’s non-emergency number and — during the confrontation — contacted an investigator from another county while recording the conversation without the other party’s knowledge or consent.
The department alleged the content creators appeared focused on producing “sensational” online content and later posted edited videos that drew widespread attention to the case.
In its statement, the department said that successful prosecutions require legally obtained evidence and procedures that withstand court scrutiny to ensure a successful criminal conviction.
FOX43 attempted to contact the social media account involved in the confrontation on Thursday, July 16. As of Saturday a response has not yet been received.
