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Man waives sex case to court

By Patty Yauger 2 min read

BULLSKIN TWP. – A Bullskin Township man charged with allegedly using the Internet to make sexual contact with a minor opted Tuesday to move the matter to the Fayette County Court without having a preliminary hearing. A shackled and handcuffed Melvin L. Miller appeared before Magisterial District Judge Robert Breakiron but only briefly in order to sign waiver forms that will transfer the case to the county level.

Miller, 42, of 634 Park Lane, Mount Pleasant, is charged with a single count of criminal solicitation, five counts of criminal attempt to have unlawful contact with a child and a single count of criminal use of a communication facility.

The state Attorney General office’s Child Predator Unit filed the charges.

According to the criminal complaint, nine conversations took place between Miller and an agent from the Attorney General’s office that posed as a 13-year-old girl in a Yahoo chat room.

Investigators said that after Miller received a requested photograph of the teen, he allegedly sent a photo that was sexual in nature.

During subsequent conversations, Miller allegedly inquired about the girl’s attire and proposed meeting so that he could “teach (you) about sex.”

The criminal attempt to have unlawful contact with a child and criminal solicitation are first-degree felonies and carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $25,000 fine. The criminal use of a computer is a third-degree felony and carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison and a $15,000 fine.

Miller remains incarcerated in the Fayette County Prison on a $50,000 straight cash bond.

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