An Allentown man arranged a paid sexual encounter with an undercover officer posing online as a 12-year-girl, officials said.
Kristien Diaz, 31, drove to the arranged meeting in Lehigh County last week and was arrested by local police, state Attorney General Dave Sunday said in a news release Thursday.
Diaz is charged with several felonies, including criminal attempted rape of a child, the release said. He is in Lehigh County Jail under $500,000 bail.
The person who communicated with Diaz online was an agent from the attorney general’s office.
“This is extremely concerning deviant behavior, as this man took every step with full intentions to sexually abuse who he thought was a pre-teenage child,” Sunday said. “Predators are lurking online perpetrating harm against children, so proactive investigations with our law enforcement partners are essential to keeping kids safe.”
When Diaz was arrested, investigators seized his cellphone, which contained conversations regarding the meeting and showed Diaz was aware of the child’s age, Sunday said.
In addition to attempted rape, he is charged with criminal attempted involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child; criminal attempted statutory sexual assault; two counts of unlawful contact with a minor; and criminal use of a communication facility. All are felonies.
Diaz is also charged with a misdemeanor, criminal attempted corruption of minors.
The case will be prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Michelle Laucella.