Man gets prison in Web sex sting

9/12/2006

TIFFIN - A Pennsylvania man accused of soliciting sex on the Internet and traveling here to attempt to have sex with a minor pleaded guilty yesterday in Seneca County Common Pleas Court and was sentenced to one year in prison.

Bernard G. McClure, 45, of Chambersburg, Pa., was found guilty of attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and importuning, both fifth degree felonies, Seneca County Prosecutor Ken Egbert, Jr., said.

He was sentenced by Common Pleas Court Judge Steve Shuff to one year in prison for attempted sexual conduct with a minor and a concurrent 10-month sentence for importuning. McClure also was classified as a sexual predator, Mr. Egbert said.

McClure conducted Internet chat room conversations with an undercover Seneca County sheriff's detective posing as a 14-year-old girl from March to May. He solicited the minor to engage in sexual activity and planned a meeting with the girl, the prosecutor said.

On May 9, McClure drove his commercial tractor-trailer from Pennsylvania to Tiffin to meet the girl for sex and was arrested by detectives, Mr. Egbert said.