Pennsylvania prosecutors say the 29-year-old man has been accused of inviting the 13-year-old girl to sex trafficking after meeting her on a popular social media platform.
Zachary Lee Macquarie of Louisville, Kentucky pretended to be a 17-year-old boy named “Jake” when he was allegedly groomed a teenager on Snapchat.
“This case illustrates how long the range of sexual predators in children is using these social media platforms.”
Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Sean said Media Briefing That the girl's mother became suspicious when she walked over to the girl taking intense photos and videos of herself in her bedroom. The mother brought her daughter's phone, iPad and MacBook to Buckingham Township Police in October.
In February, she contacted the Bucks County District Attorney's Office after seeing reports of child sexual abuse. The investigation led police to McAuley.
“He used grooming tactics to lower her restraint, but those tactics evolved to threaten her mother to harm her if she didn't follow his demands,” Sean said.
She is said to have ordered girls to create profiles on Grindr's dating app, so men can meet her to pay for sex. Two Pennsylvania men have been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a girl.
A third man changed his mind after meeting her, Sean said.
“There was a third man who actually met this child. When he met in person, it quickly became clear that she was a child and that she had not engaged in the sexual encounters he was trying to engage in,” she explained.
Two suspects who met the victim on Grindr posted bail and McAuley was arrested in Kentucky and awaited extradition to Pennsylvania.
“This case illustrates how long a child's reach of sexual predators can be using these social media platforms,” Sean added. “We can guarantee that this investigation is still very active right now. If there are additional victims, we will ensure that this individual is charged with those crimes.”
Experts say parents should monitor their children if they are allowed access to smartphones and the internet. Children should also be restricted from apps that allow strangers to contact them.
“Unfortunately, this is a subject we've seen many times and we know these forums. These types of predators can really do so with anonymity.
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