Lancaster, Pennsylvania.Authorities in Lancaster County reported that a Mount Joy man who pleaded guilty to crimes related to an undercover human trafficking investigation had been sentenced to two and a half to five years in state prison.
In court, Jeffrey McDonald, 39, of the 100 block of Farmington Way, acknowledged trying to pay for sex with a girl he thought was 14 years old. But the girl was a Lancaster County Human Trafficking Task Force undercover cop. Last month, McDonald entered a guilty plea to felony charges of statutory sexual abuse, corruption of juveniles, and illegal attempt to patronize a victim of human trafficking.
When McDonald replied to an internet ad in May and consented to pay $200 for the alleged juvenile’s sexual services, the investigation got underway.
Task force operatives claimed to be the juvenile’s family representative in the advertisement. McDonald was arrested by police when he showed up at a hotel in West Hempfield Township and verbally verified the agreement.
McDonald was sentenced to five years of probation in addition to the prison term imposed by Judge Merrill Spah. McDonald spoke to the court before being sentenced, calling his conduct a grave error.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Fritz Haverstick, who praised the Lancaster County Human Trafficking Task Force’s efforts in identifying and apprehending those who aim to exploit children.
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